Sixty-four-year-old Droupadi Murmu on Monday took oath as the 15th President of India flagging “everyone’s efforts, everyone’s duties” (Sabka saath, sabka kartavya) as central tracks for building a self-reliant, glorious India.Delivering her first address after being administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana in the Central Hall of Parliament here, Murmu said youth and women’s welfare would remain her top priorities in the highest office.
“Today I assure all the countrymen, especially the youth and women of India that while working in this position, their interest will be of paramount importance to me.
Droupadi Murmu
She said she felt proud to lead a country where the youth have the courage to break away from the old rut. “Today I assure all the countrymen, especially the youth and women of India that while working in this position, their interest will be of paramount importance to me,” she said.
“I come from a poor tribal village in Odisha where getting even basic education was a dream. But in spite of the obstacles I remained steadfast and became the first person in my village to go to college,” she said.
President Murmu, who began her address with the traditional salutation Johar, said, “ I am from an ST (scheduled tribe) community and got the opportunities, from becoming a ward councillor to President. It shows the greatness of India’s democracy. It is the power of democracy that a woman born in a poor family in a remote village has reached the highest constitutional office in the country,” she said.
Murmu, who contested the presidential election as a candidate of the ruling National Democratic Alliance, was elected on July 21 with 64.3% votes against Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha.
“My election is proof that the poor in India can dream and make their dreams come true. It is a matter of great satisfaction for me that those who have been deprived for centuries, who have been away from the benefits of development, the poor, the downtrodden, the backward and the tribals can see their reflection in me,” she said, thanking lawmakers for their support.
