NEW DELHI: Paying tributes to the makers of the Constitution, President Droupadi Murmu said on Sunday they had provided a “strong bedrock for the spirit of nationalism and the unity of the country” through constitutional provisions. She also underlined how the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ instils patriotism in every Indian, calling it the country’s “lyrical national prayer”.She also flagged India’s resolve to become the “world’s third-largest economy in the near future”, and said India is recording continuous economic growth despite global uncertainties. “By investing in the creation of world-class infrastructure, we are rebuilding our economic strength at a much larger scale.”She added that atma-nirbharta and swadeshi are our guiding principles. “Our Constitution is the foundational document of the largest republic in world history. The ideals of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity enshrined in our Constitution define our republic,” Murmu said in her address to the nation on Republic Day eve. She also flagged country’s resolve to become the “world’s third-largest economy in the near future”, and said India is recording continuous economic growth despite global uncertainties.“By investing in creation of world-class infrastructure, we are rebuilding our economic strength at a much larger scale. In this journey of shaping our economic destiny, atma-nirbharta and swadeshi are our guiding principles,” she said.The President termed implementation of GST as “most important decision for economic integration of country after Independence”, and said it has established the system of ‘one nation, one market’. “The recent decisions to make the GST system even more effective will further strengthen our economy,” she said.Prez: Active participation of women important for India’s democracy“Four Labour Codes have been issued in the field of labour reforms. These will benefit our workers and will also accelerate the development of enterprises,” said Murmu.On the ongoing celebrations marking 150 years of the composition of ‘Vande Mataram’, she said, “The great nationalist poet Subramanya Bharati composed ‘Vande Mataram yenbom’ in the Tamil language, meaning ‘Let us chant Vande Mataram’, and connected the masses on an even larger scale with the spirit of Vande Mataram.”“Translations of this song in other Indian languages also became popular. Sri Aurobindo translated this song into English,” she said.Highlighting the role of women in strengthening democracy and the overall development of the country, the President said the active and empowered participation of women is extremely important for India.“National efforts towards their health, education, safety and economic empowerment have increased women’s participation in many areas,” she said, noting how women are breaking traditional stereotypes and forging ahead.Citing examples of India winning the ICC Women’s World Cup and subsequently the Blind Women’s T20 World Cup last year, Murmu said, “These examples are a testament to the dominance of India’s daughters in the world of sports. The people of the country are proud of them.” She also recalled how the final match of the Chess World Cup was played between two Indian women last year.“The ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, which seeks to take political empowerment of women to greater heights, will provide unprecedented strength to the idea of women-led development. The role of nari shakti will be crucial in the making of Viksit Bharat. With increasing contribution by women, our country will set an example of an inclusive republic based on gender equality,” said the President.
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