Shivakumar Praises Women's Strength at Entrepreneurship Event
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday praised women for their strength and sacrifices, saying Sita's character in the Ramayana was greater than Rama's. Speaking after inaugurating the fifth edition of 'Together We Grow-International Women Entrepreneurship Day', organised by the Ubuntu Consortium of Women Entrepreneurs Association in Bengaluru, he urged women entrepreneurs to take up leadership roles in the state's growth.
"In the Ramayana, Sita's character is far greater than Lord Rama's. Her sacrifices and struggles are exemplary. Women are creators, and those of you who have built enterprises by overcoming challenges are also role models," Shivakumar said, as reported by India Today and The Times of India.
Call for Women's Leadership from Grassroots to Parliament
Shivakumar said women's leadership was needed from gram panchayats to Parliament, adding that the state government was committed to empowering women. He described women as creators, problem-solvers and decision-makers, saying that from managing families and resources to building businesses, women could turn challenges into possibilities.
"When their creativity, capability and determination are supported with access to capital, technology and markets, there is no limit to what they can build," he said, according to The Times of India, adding that it was the government's responsibility to create an ecosystem where their potential could flourish.
Addressing social mindsets, Shivakumar said, "In Indian society, there is still a mindset that the first child should be a boy. We must move away from this. As parents, we must teach our children values and discipline. My daughter is an empowered woman who has successfully balanced family and business," as quoted by The Times of India. He also referred to Draupadi and Kunti from the Mahabharata while speaking about women's talent and potential.
Government Schemes and Women's Empowerment
Shivakumar highlighted the Congress government's five guarantee schemes — Shakti, Gruha Lakshmi, Gruha Jyothi, Anna Bhagya and Yuva Nidhi. "Under the Shakti scheme, women travel free across the state in government buses. It has boosted their confidence and self-reliance. The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had opposed the guarantee schemes. Under Gruha Lakshmi, 1.22 crore women in the state receive Rs 2,000 each, which has helped them manage their families," he said, as reported by both India Today and The Times of India.
He also mentioned women-focused programmes run by the state government, including loans at four per cent interest, subsidies and the Stree Shakti scheme. He noted that 40 per cent of doctors graduating every year were women.
Sonia Gandhi as an Example of Resilience
Shivakumar cited Congress leader Sonia Gandhi as an example of resilience, referring to the deaths of her mother-in-law, former prime minister Indira Gandhi, and her husband, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. "Although she had two opportunities to become prime minister, she chose to let economist Manmohan Singh take the post. This is an example of the sacrifices women make. Women nurture and create leaders," he said, according to The Times of India.
Women's Reservation and Political Representation
Shivakumar said, "We have accepted women's reservation cutting across party lines. Women's leadership is needed from gram panchayats to Parliament. With 33 per cent reservation, it will not be possible to prevent women from becoming leaders," as reported by The Times of India.
Bengaluru Infrastructure and Tunnel Project
Shivakumar also urged women entrepreneurs to support the proposed tunnel project aimed at easing traffic congestion in Bengaluru, calling opposition to it "politically motivated." He said the city was expanding rapidly and now had 4 crore vehicles, while the government was spending Rs 5 lakh crore on infrastructure to strengthen Bengaluru's transport system, as reported by India Today and The Times of India.
Closing Remarks on Development
"India's development depends on the development of South India. Coming together is the beginning, growing together is progress, and working together is success. Everyone should become a partner in Karnataka's development," Shivakumar added, according to The Times of India.