President Droupadi Murmu greets the audience during the centenary celebrations of St. Teresa’s College in Kochi, Kerala, on Friday.
| Photo Credit: H. Vibhu
President Droupadi Murmu has urged women to make life choices with clarity and courage.
Speaking at the centenary celebrations of St Teresa’s College in Kochi, Kerala, on Friday (October 24, 2025), Ms. Murmu suggested that women should choose the path that allows them to express their passion and capabilities.
“A society led by women leaders is likely to be more humane while being more efficient,” she said.
The college that has been promoting women’s education with steadfast commitment to spiritual values has made great contributions to social transformation and natio- building. The vision and legacy of distinguished personalities who built the institution and led it through a century of sustained accomplishments shall be appreciated, she said.
Women from Kerala have given leadership to the nation. Fifteen exceptional women-members of the Constituent Assembly added rich perspectives in the making of the Constitution of India. Of those 15 outstanding women, three were from Kerala. Ammu Swaminathan, Annie Mascarene and Dakshayani Velayudan had influenced deliberations on fundamental rights, social justice and gender equality, as also on several other important aspects, Ms. Murmu noted.
“Women of Kerala have set great examples of excellence. The first lady to become a High Court judge in India was Justice Anna Chandy. In 1956, she became a judge in the High Court of Kerala. Justice M. Fathima Beevi made history when she became the first lady judge in the Supreme Court of India in 1989,” the President noted.
Kerala has most favourable gender-ratio in our country. This can be emulated by other States. The active participation of women is necessary for the country to leverage its demographic dividend. Gender Budget allocation has increased four and a half times during the last decade. Women-led MSMEs nearly doubled between 2011 and 2024, she said.
Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, State Ministers P. Rajeeve and V. N. Vasavan, Hibi Eden, MP, T.J. Vinod, MLA, Antony Valumkal, Auxiliary Bishop of Verapoly, and college principal Anu Joseph spoke.
The President also unveiled the logo of the centenary celebrations at the function.
Published – October 24, 2025 03:19 pm IST
