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Chandigarh, Mar 17 (ANI): President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Thursday said gender equality and advancement of women, is one of the most critical aspects of development in all parts of the world, as in India.

Delivering lecture on Doctor V.N. Tiwari Memorial function at Punjab University here, President Patil said: “In India, in our work, we draw inspiration from the remarkable contributions of the numerous women who achieved eminence in the spiritual field and in the battlefield, in social and literary areas, as also in political activities, including from their active participation in our freedom movement.”

“We also draw strength from our enlightened Constitution. The women of our nation did get a head-start in free India as universal adult franchise was adopted. They got voting rights along with their male counterparts. This was not the case in many other countries, where women had to strive to get their voting rights,” she added.

President Patil said India had followed a three-pronged strategy consisting of social empowerment, economic empowerment and issues relating to gender justice since independence.

“Women have been elected to the office of the President, the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The Leader of the Opposition is also a woman. At the grass roots level, there are over a million elected women representatives in local bodies in villages and towns. Women are taking leadership roles, and it will change the face of the country for the better,” said President Patil.

“Many women in India have reached high positions, and many others are excelling in administration, science, arts, and humanities and, even in professions once unthinkable for women. Women’s entry into new areas, such as an all women battalions in the Central Reserve Police Force are becoming the drivers of change. All this will bring a silent revolution in the status of women in our country,” she added.

President Patil further said gender equality and advancement of women, is one of the most critical aspects of development in all parts of the world, as in India.

“In India, in our work, we draw inspiration from the remarkable contributions of the numerous women who achieved eminence in the spiritual field and in the battlefield, in social and literary areas, as also in political activities, including from their active participation in our freedom movement,” said President Patil.

“We also draw strength from our enlightened Constitution. The women of our nation did get a head-start in free India as universal adult franchise was adopted. They got voting rights along with their male counterparts. This was not the case in many other countries, where women had to strive to get their voting rights,” she added. (ANI)