http://www.ibnlive.com/news/patil-begins-innings-with-talk-of-inclusive-growth/45591-3.html
Patil begins innings with talk of 'inclusive growth' ibnlive.com New Delhi: India's new President Pratibha Patil has favoured a sustained economic growth that should be socially inclusive and called for empowering women. "Our combined endeavour should be to ensure that the rate of economic growth is sustained and it is socially inclusive," Patil said in her address at the Central Hall of Parliament shortly after she was sworn in the country's 13th President. President Patil described herself as the Republic's first servant and said her sincere endeavour would be to live up to the high expectations of the people who chose to elect her as President. Remembering Baba Saheb Ambedkar — the father of Indian Constitution — Patil said she draws inspiration from him. "I am inspired by Baba Saheb Ambedkar," she said, adding that she considers upliftment of the poor as a "scared duty". Noting that India stood at the threshold of a new era of progress and was moving at an 'historically unprecedented' rates of growth, Patil said: "It should be our combined endeavour to sustain this growth and ensure that it is socially inclusive." She said it should be ensured that every section of the society, particularly the weak and the disadvantaged, are equal partners in an beneficiaries of the development process. "We must also ensure that every region of the country participates in and benefits from the process of economic growth," Patil said. The first woman President said empowerment of women was particularly important to her as she believed that it leads to the empowerment of the nation. "We must banish malnutrition, social evils, infant mortality and female foeticide," she said while expressing her full commitment to the protection of child rights. Asking the people to wage a relentless campaign against poverty, ignorance and disease for a better future of the children, she said: "We must show wisdom and foresight in protecting our planet and our children, for the good of all living species and future generations." She said she was committed to the cause of education and would like to see every person to be touched by the light of modern education. "We must ensure that science and technology serve our needs better, and help us develop a scientific temper that will unleash the full potential of our people, our farmers, our workers, our professionals and our entrepreneurs," she said. She said the people of the country desire better governance, faster development and a life of peace and security. "We must all stand united in the fight against such divisive and destructive tendencies as communalism, casteism, extremism and terrorism," she said. Earlier, Patil was administered the oath of office as the country's first woman President by Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan at a function in the Central Hall of Parliament House. The function was attended by a host of VVIPs, including outgoing President APJ Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union ministers, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Opposition leaders, governors, chief ministers and members of the diplomatic corps. A 21-gun salute was accorded to Patil after she was sworn-in as the country's 13th President. She solemnly affirmed by the oath, which she took in English. A string of ceremonial drills kickstarted the process to usher in the new President. A senior military official knocked at the doors of the residence of President-elect Pratibha Patil to escort her to the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. The Military Secretary to President, Maj Gen Vinod Chopra, arrived at Patil's 9 South Avenue residence in the backyard of the Presidential Palace on Wednesday afternoon. He invited Patil and her spouse Devi Singh Shekhawat to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. A large number of people had gathered at the residence to greet her before her departure for the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. (With PTI inputs) -- Subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a BLANK email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
