Droupadi Murmu takes oath as India’s 15th President; Promises to work for empowerment of women & youth
New Delhi.
Ms Droupadi Murmu was sworn in as 15th President of India on Monday. She was administered the oath of office by the Chief Justice of India N. V. Ramana at the Central Hall of Parliament this morning. Addressing the gathering on this occasion, President Droupadi Murmu said, this is the beauty of Indian democracy that a poor lady from a far-flung area has become the President. She said, reaching the Presidential post is not her personal achievement, it is the achievement of every poor in India. She added that her nomination is evidence that the poor in India can not only dream but also fulfill those dreams. Ms Murmu added that she wants all sisters and daughters to be empowered more and more so that they continue to increase their contribution in every field of nation building.
Ms Murmu highlighted the spirit of new India and the emergence of the country as a global leader. The President said, in 75 years as a Parliamentary democracy, India has carried forward the resolve of progress through participation and consensus. She said, in these 25 years, the path to attain the goals of Amritkal will proceed on two tracks – ‘Sabka Prayas aur Sabka Kartavya’. Ms Murmu greeted the nation on the eve of Kargil Vijay Diwas saying that this day is the symbol of courage of country’s armed forces. She also remembered the contribution of freedom fighters and stressed the need to speed up efforts to meet the expectations that India’s freedom fighters had with the citizens of independent India. Appreciating the efforts of the country during the COVID pandemic, she said, administering 200 crore vaccine doses to the people of the country is a big achievement.
Earlier in the morning, Ms Murmu paid tribute at Rajghat in the national capital ahead of her swearing-in. After the conclusion of the ceremony, the President left for Rashtrapati Bhavan where an Inter-Services Guard of Honour was given to her in the Forecourt, and courtesies were extended to the outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers, Governors, Chief Ministers, Heads of Diplomatic Missions, Members of Parliament, and principal Civil and Military Officers of the Government of India were present in the Swearing-in Ceremony. President Droupadi Murmu is the first tribal person and the second woman to hold the position.
The 64-year-old is the youngest President of the country. She is also the first President of India who is born after Independence. Ms Murmu joined politics in 1997 and was elected Councillor in Rairangpur Notified Area Council of Odisha. She served twice as an MLA from Rairangpur Assembly Constituency from 2000 to 2009 and once as a Minister for Commerce, Transport, Fisheries, and Animal Resources Development in Odisha Government. On 18th May 2015, Ms Murmu took oath as Governor of Jharkhand and stayed in the post till 12th July last year. She was the first woman Governor of the state and the first female tribal leader to serve as a Governor in any Indian state.
