President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday strongly backed the ‘One Nation One Election’ proposal, saying simultaneous elections can promote consistency in governance, prevent policy paralysis, mitigate resource diversion, and reduce the financial burden, apart from offering many other benefits.
Addressing the nation on the eve of the 76th Republic Day, Murmu praised India's economic growth rate and said the country's economy influences global economic trends.
"In recent years, the economic growth rate has remained persistently high, creating job opportunities for our youth, putting more money in the hands of farmers and labourers, and also lifting more people out of poverty. The bold and far-sighted economic reforms will sustain this trend in the years to come," she said, adding that India is taking leadership positions in international forums.
The president noted that initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, MUDRA, Stand-Up India and Atal Pension Yojana have been expanded to provide more people access to a variety of financial support schemes.
Murmu claimed that the government has redefined the notion of welfare, making basic necessities such as housing and access to drinking water a matter of entitlement. "Every effort is being made to extend a helping hand to the marginalized communities, particularly of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes," she said.
The focus on physical infrastructure development, including roads and railways, ports and logistics hubs, over the past decade has created a platform to support growth for the decades to come, the President said in her address.
Murmu termed the decision to replace the Indian Penal Code with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as a key attempt to change the colonial mindset.
"Based also on Indian traditions of jurisprudence, the new criminal laws place the delivery of justice instead of punishment at the centre of the criminal justice system. Moreover, the new laws grant top priority to countering crimes against women and children," she said.
