President Droupadi Murmu praises rural women’s progress at National SARAS Mela

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the National SARAS Mela at Punnami Ghat, where she praised the growing confidence and economic independence of rural women.

Speaking at the event, the President said she was delighted to visit Vijayawada and had the opportunity to seek the blessings of Goddess Kanaka Durga. She described the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ Mela, held as part of SARAS Mela during the Durga Devi festivities, as a significant and meaningful convergence.

Murmu said rural development was closely linked to the progress of villages. After visiting stalls run by women, she said their enthusiasm and smiles reflected their satisfaction. Women, she noted, had moved on from being marginalised and financially dependent to achieving self-reliance. They were now not only supporting themselves but also helping others.

The President said women’s participation was essential to achieving the goal of a ‘Developed India’ (Viksit Bharat) by 2047. She attributed the progress in women’s empowerment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, women’s determination and the collective efforts of chief ministers across the country. She expressed confidence that India would become a developed nation well before 2047.

Women’s role in rural development

Murmu stressed the importance of rural women’s participation in agriculture and said self-help groups had created new opportunities for their economic, technical and social empowerment. The number of women entrepreneurs had risen, she said, while more women were taking part in financial decisions within their families.

Although India has diverse languages, cultures and traditions, the President said, the country remained united. She also noted that women now accounted for 50 per cent of participation in rural politics.

Women who had once been reluctant to approach banks were now managing their financial affairs independently, Murmu said. She added that the Central Government’s Rural Livelihood Mission placed strong emphasis on women as part of its broader *Antyodaya* vision of uplifting the last person. Women were providing the leadership needed to transform rural villages, while the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative had given fresh momentum and direction to their empowerment.

Skills for emerging sectors

The President said women’s growing participation in modern fields, including digital services and renewable energy, was creating new opportunities for skills development.

Recalling her time as a governor, Murmu said she had the privilege of serving rural communities. She had seen women use laptops to manage their work and record investments, profits and future plans.

She urged every woman to pursue financial growth and contribute not only to her family’s wellbeing but also to the development of her state.

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Pavan Bandari

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I am content writer with six years of experience in entertainment and politics besides other modules as well.