'Society must work to change negative perceptions about women'

New Delhi, Mar 7: Society must work towards changing negative perceptions about women and they should be provided a safe, secure and congenial environment to help them contribute towards nation-building, President

said today.

In his message on the eve of International Women's Day, Mukherjee asked people to resolve to redouble efforts for the protection and welfare of women.

"I extend warm greetings and good wishes to women in all parts of our country. I thank them for their invaluable contribution in the making of our great nation. Women in India have attained greatness through the ages –in political, academic and spiritual spheres. They enjoyed freedom and equal participation in public life in ancient India," the President observed.

The principle of gender equality is also enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Not only does the Constitution grant equality to women, but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women, he said.

"Empowerment of women must be regarded as not only an element of our efforts towards gender equality, but also a critical step for stimulating their full participation in nation-building. We as a society must work towards changing negative perceptions about women. Women should be provided a safe, secure and congenial environment in which their talents can flower and they can contribute their full share in the building of our nation," Mukherjee said in a release issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

On this International Women's Day, let us resolve to redouble our efforts for the protection and welfare of women. "May the celebrations inculcate in every member of our society the highest respect for women," he said.

PTI