New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: Stating that there have been many events including the G20 summit under India's Presidency and Chandrayaan-3 in the last year for the citizens to rejoice and take pride, President Droupadi Murmu in her address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day 2024 said that consecration of idol of Lord Ram is a landmark ceremony in India’s continued re-discovery of its civilisational heritage.

"Earlier this week, we witnessed the historic consecration ceremony of the idol of Prabhu Shri Ram in the glorious new temple constructed at His birthplace in Ayodhya. When this event is seen in the wider perspective, the future historians will consider it a landmark in India’s continued re-discovery of its civilisational heritage," President Murmu said.

She noted that the construction of the Ram temple commenced after the due judicial process and the decision of the country's highest court.

"Now it stands as a grand edifice, giving a befitting expression not only of people’s faith but also as a testament to people’s enormous trust in judicial process," Murmu said.

Terming the successful organising of the G20 Summit in the capital as an unprecedented achievement, the President said that the summit boosted India’s emergence as the voice of the global south.

On progress towards the ideal of gender equality, Murmu said that the Women’s Reservation Bill passed by the Parliament would prove to be a revolutionary tool for women’s empowerment.

Listing out the achievements in space science, especially Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1, the President said that these feats had fired the imagination of the young generation.

"It will also inspire more youngsters, especially young women, to pursue careers in science and technology," she said.

She underlined the strength of the economy and said that India's GDP growth rate has remained the highest among major economies in recent years and the momentum is set to continue in 2024 and beyond.

Murmu said, "What I find particularly noteworthy is that the same farsighted planning that fuels the economy has also given a push to the welfare drive to make the development inclusive in every sense of the term."

The President said that the government's decision to provide free food grains to over 81 crore people for five years is perhaps the biggest welfare initiative of its kind in history.