24 July : Pratibha Patil, who made history by becoming India’s first woman President, on Thursday, completed two years in office which saw her emerging from a low-profile role to a pro-active leader championing social issues like women’s empowerment and crusading against child marriage and ragging.
During the second year in Rashtrapati Bhawan, the lawyer-turned-politician Patil espoused the cause of the battle against social evils like child marriage and kept sustained focus on unemployed, farmers, youth and women whose welfare she says is important for an inclusive growth of the country.
At the Governors Conference held in September 2008, Patil took up the need to re-assess issues relating to womens empowerment and to address the concerns of the North-Eastern region of the country.
“The Conference set-up a Committee to identify strategies for speedier socio-economic development of women. The Committee recommended establishment of National Commission for the Empowerment of Women, which has since been accepted and is being set-up,” a Rashtrapati spokesperson said.
Interacting with officials of All India Services at various levels, the President spoke for a result-oriented administration wedded to performance in which citizens would have confidence and a voice.