NEW DELHI: Speaking on the International Women’s Day, President Droupadi Murmu has said that to achieve development in the true sense, “we must ensure equal participation of women, who constitute nearly half of the country’s population”.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, stressed that empowerment of women is at the core of the govt’s various schemes and initiatives. He shared a thread posted by “MyGovIndia” — the citizen engagement platform of the govt — on the various milestones achieved and measures taken for empowerment of women.The President said that though women are playing leading roles in every field and major efforts have made to empower them, many obstacles remain in their development journey. “For example, even today, many women face problems such as discrimination, unequal pay for equal work and domestic violence,” Murmu highlighted.These challenges cannot be addressed solely through legislation. “A shift in societal mindset is essential,” the President said while addressing an event organised by Ministry of Women and Child Development in the Capital.She stressed that every child must be treated equally, and it is important that there is no discrimination between daughters and sons in any home. “Only when we move beyond the mindset of gender-based discrimination can we truly establish equality in society.”Reflecting on what has been achieved so far, the President said India is rapidly moving towards women-led development. “Over the past decade, strong foundations have been laid for removing barriers in the path of women. India has achieved gender parity in school education. Even in higher education, the number of female students is higher in terms of Gross Enrolment Ratio,” she said.Noting that women’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education is rapidly increasing, Murmu said, “Our daughters are getting ready for leadership roles in the knowledge economy.”Women are also emerging as job creators. More than half of the start-ups receiving support under Start-up India scheme have at least one woman director, Murmu pointed out. The labour codes implemented last year aim to provide a more inclusive, safe and empowering work environment for women workers.“In an environment free from fear and discrimination, women can contribute their best towards nation-building,” the President said, calling upon all citizens to pledge to eliminate all forms of discrimination prevalent in society.In his message sharing a thread posted by “MyGovIndia”, PM Modi said, “A glimpse of how the lives of women have been transformed at the grassroots over the past decade…”“Across every field, women are shaping India’s progress with determination, creativity and unmatched zeal. Their achievements inspire our nation and strengthen our collective resolve to build a Viksit Bharat,” he added.“We remain committed to creating opportunities that enable every woman to realise her full potential and contribute to India’s journey of development,” the PM said.The “achievements of India’s Nari Shakti are a source of pride and a powerful reminder of the transformative role in nation building.”“As India progresses further, the aspirations and contributions of women will continue to guide our collective journey towards a strong and prosperous nation,” he added.