Women's rights must be respected: Pranab Mukherjee

New Delhi, Aug 31: President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said India "must respect as sacred the rights of women to equal opportunities and dignified living", as given an opportunity, the women can rise and excel in any field of their choice.

"We need to build such mechanisms within institutions that facilitate the growth of women into decision making positions," he said while addressing eminent women leaders who featured in a book titled "30 Women in Power: Their Voices, Their Stories".

The president said the stories and experiences of their journey towards success would serve as an immense source of inspiration.

"The book is important not only because it is a celebration of women empowerment, but also because it a timely reminder of the battles that still need to be fought, and those that are being fought each day by women to find their place under the sun," he said.

The book is about the inner strength of women and how far their determination and faith can take them, the president said.

The women had called on him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

IANS