In her third address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu emphasised the need to strengthen affirmative action as a tool for inclusion while urging the rejection of divisive tendencies rooted in perceived social hierarchies.
“Social justice is a top priority for the Narendra Modi govt, which has initiated unprecedented measures for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other marginalised communities,” the President said in her speech, which comes weeks after a Lok Sabha contest where concerns over reservation quotas were seen to have had a bearing on the outcome.
The President quoted B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, emphasising that “political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy” and said steady progress of political democracy testifies to the progress made towards the consolidation of social democracy.
Murmu went on to list out measures taken to deliver on the social justice agenda. “Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan Evam Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan (PM-SURAJ) for example, aims to provide direct financial assistance to the people from the marginalised communities,” she said.
In her address, the President also acknowledged the observance of Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas (Partition Horrors Remembrance Day), reflecting on the human tragedy of partition, which resulted in immense suffering and loss of life. “As we prepare to celebrate our Independence Day, we must remember the unparalleled tragedy and stand in solidarity with those families affected,” she concluded.
Murmu also stressed on gender justice and climate justice. “In our society, women are considered not only equal, but even more than equal. However, they have also suffered from traditional prejudices. But I am glad to note that govt has given equal importance to women’s welfare and women’s empowerment. The budget allocation for this purpose has more than tripled in the last decade,” Murmu said.
She cited the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, the law that seeks to make way for reservation for women in Parliament and assemblies to assert that it is “aimed at ensuring real empowerment of women”. “Speaking of justice, let me also mention that in adopting the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita from July this year, we have removed one more relic of the colonial era. The new code is oriented towards ensuring justice for the victims of crime instead of focusing on punishment alone. I see this change as a tribute to freedom fighters,” she said.
