Droupadi Murmu At News18 SheShakti 2024: Time to Awaken Public Consciousness Where No Woman Feels Unsafe

Droupadi Murmu, President of India, in her special video message at the CNN-News18 SheShakti 2024, said that the “time has come for us to awaken a public consciousness where respect for women is increased, and no woman feels unsafe at any time, in any place”. She said the real strength of our nation lies in the empowerment of women.

“Our women have always demonstrated resilience, strength and courage, moving forward despite all obstacles. In our country, strict laws have been made regarding women safety. Yes, it is unfortunate that feelings of insecurity still exist. The constant struggle of women is against the social narrow mindedness and conservatism that consider them weak. Although many changes have occurred, some social prejudices remain deeply rooted, creating barriers to women’s equality. As a society, we all need to look within ourselves and ask some hard questions. Where have we gone wrong? What can we do to improve,” asked Murmu.

“The safety and dignity of women are crucial to the success of any nation. It has become essential for all of us to come together and pledge to protect the honour and dignity of the women in the country and ensure their progress,” said the President.

“In the centuries-old culture of India, our country has been given the status of motherhood. We regard our birthplace as mother and refer to our Earth as mother. The Indian soil has a tradition of holding women in the highest respect and reverence. In our diverse nation, our goddesses have also assumed many forms. On the one hand, they take on fierce forms like Kali and Durga to vanquish demons, while on the other, they bless us as Lakshmi and Saraswati, providing peace, prosperity and knowledge. Women are considered the embodiment of power in our country. Women are in fact the true embodiment of power,” said Murmu.

“This initiative by Network 18 aims to honour those women who have achieved extraordinary feats despite the limitations of gender. These women have set incredible examples, breaking all boundaries, challenging discriminatory standards and achieving tremendous success by shattering stereotypes…Your She-Shakti campaign is part of this broader public awareness effort. My best wishes for the success of your programme,” she said.

ABOUT SHESHAKTI 2024

In its Season 2, News18 SheShakti celebrates the trailblazing women propelling India to the global forefront.

Under the theme ‘Breaking Barriers’, this year’s event in New Delhi on September 16 throws spotlight how women are redefining success and driving transformative change. The summit has an inspiring line-up of pioneers from diverse fields — politics, science, arts, business, sports and entertainment — to share their ground-breaking journeys and insights on empowerment, resilience and leadership, reflecting the unstoppable momentum of women leading India’s progress.