Need to change mindset on hiring women, says President Droupadi Murmu

NEW DELHI: Emphasising equal opportunities in education and at workplace, President Droupadi Murmu Saturday called for changing the mindset that comes in the way of hiring women in jobs where some employers view leave for childcare as a problem. This, she said, is one of the reasons for lower participation of women in the workforce, not just in India but across the world.

Reflecting on lower participation of women in workforce, Murmu said a mother's role is crucial to nation-building and, if she takes leave from work for the welfare of her children, it needs to be seen positively. Murmu was speaking at the inaugural session of a day-long conference on the theme 'Nari Shakti Se Viksit Bharat' organised by women and child development ministry to mark 'Women's Day'.

"We will have to ask ourselves this question that do we have no responsibility as a society toward the children who will form the future society," Murmu said. "We all know the family the first teacher is the mother. And if a mother takes leave to care for her children and their education, her efforts are for the betterment of society," she said.

"Today when India is on the path towards becoming the world's third-largest economy, increasing the participation of women in the workforce rapidly is very critical. For that to happen it is important to ensure women get equal opportunities in education and jobs," she added.

This year's celebrations, Murmu said, mark the completion of 50 years of International Women's Day and during this period, women have made unprecedented progress. She said she considers her journey to be a part of this progress. She said from being born in a simple family and backward area of Odisha, her journey to Rashtrapati Bhavan is the story of equal opportunities and social justice for women in Indian society.

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