BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday invoked Sita’s character in the Ramayana to highlight women’s strength and sacrifices, saying women could play a decisive role in the state’s economic growth and should step into leadership positions from gram panchayats to Parliament.Speaking after inaugurating the fifth edition of ‘Together We Grow-International Women Entrepreneurship Day’, organised by the Ubuntu Consortium of Women Entrepreneurs Association, Shivakumar said women who built businesses despite challenges were role models.“In the Ramayana, Sita’s character is far greater than Lord Rama’s. Her sacrifices and struggles are exemplary. Women are creators, and those of you who have built enterprises by overcoming challenges are also role models,” Shivakumar said.
Shivakumar pitches women’s leadership, entrepreneurship
The chief minister said women’s leadership was needed at every level of governance and reiterated the state government’s commitment to empowering them.He said women had long been creators, problem-solvers and decision-makers, managing families and resources while also building businesses.“When their creativity, capability and determination are supported with access to capital, technology and markets, there is no limit to what they can build,” he said, adding that it was the government’s responsibility to create an ecosystem where their potential could flourish.Stressing his faith in youth and women, Shivakumar highlighted the Congress government’s five guarantee schemes — Shakti, Gruha Lakshmi, Gruha Jyothi, Anna Bhagya and Yuva Nidhi.“Under the Shakti scheme, women travel free across the state in government buses. It has boosted their confidence and self-reliance. The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had opposed the guarantee schemes. Under Gruha Lakshmi, 1.22 crore women in the state receive Rs 2,000 each, which has helped them manage their families,” he said.He also referred to women-centric government programmes, including four per cent interest loans, subsidies and the Stree Shakti scheme, and noted that women account for 40% of doctors graduating every year.“You are not confined to the kitchen,” he said.
‘Women nurture and create leaders’
Shivakumar said the Ubuntu initiative had brought together thousands of women with entrepreneurial ambitions and praised them for balancing family responsibilities with their professional lives.According to its website, the Ubuntu Consortium brings together women entrepreneurs’ associations from across India to create an inclusive nationwide network.The chief minister also spoke about changing attitudes towards women and children.“In Indian society, there is still a mindset that the first child should be a boy. We must move away from this. As parents, we must teach our children values and discipline. My daughter is an empowered woman who has successfully balanced family and business,” he said.Calling women the “eyes of the family” in Indian culture, Shivakumar praised women entrepreneurs for overcoming financial challenges and assured them of government support.He cited Congress leader Sonia Gandhi as an example of resilience, referring to the deaths of her mother-in-law, former prime minister Indira Gandhi, and husband, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.“Although she had two opportunities to become prime minister, she chose to let economist Manmohan Singh take the post. This is an example of the sacrifices women make. Women nurture and create leaders,” he said.He also referred to Draupadi and Kunti from the Mahabharata while speaking about women’s talent and potential.“We have accepted women’s reservation cutting across party lines. Women’s leadership is needed from gram panchayats to Parliament. With 33 per cent reservation, it will not be possible to prevent women from becoming leaders,” he said.
Shivakumar backs Bengaluru tunnel project
Shivakumar also urged women entrepreneurs to support the proposed tunnel project aimed at easing traffic congestion in Bengaluru, calling opposition to it “politically motivated.”He said the city was expanding rapidly and now had 1.4 crore vehicles, while the government was spending Rs 1.5 lakh crore on infrastructure to strengthen Bengaluru’s transport system.He urged women entrepreneurs not to lose confidence and called on them to contribute to Karnataka’s development.“India’s development depends on the development of South India. Coming together is the beginning, growing together is progress, and working together is success. Everyone should become a partner in Karnataka’s development,” he added.(With PTI inputs)
