Sita’s character greater than Rama’s, says Karnataka CM Shivakumar; bats for women’s leadership

BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday praised women for their strength and sacrifices, saying Sita's character in the Ramayana was greater than Rama's, and urged women entrepreneurs to take up leadership roles in the state's growth.

He was speaking after inaugurating the fifth edition of 'Together We Grow—International Women Entrepreneurship Day', organised by the Ubuntu Consortium of Women Entrepreneurs Association here.

"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.

Women's leadership was needed from gram panchayats to Parliament, he said, adding that the state government was committed to empowering women.

Noting that women had always been creators, problem-solvers and decision-makers, the chief minister said that from managing families and resources to building businesses, women could turn challenges into possibilities.

"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 for their potential to flourish.

Stressing his faith in the strength of youth and women, Shivakumar said the Congress government had introduced 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 highlighted women-centric programmes implemented by the state government, including loans at four per cent interest, subsidies and the Stree Shakti scheme, and noted that 40 per cent of doctors graduating every year were women.

"You are not confined to the kitchen," he said.

Thousands of dreams had come together through Ubuntu, Shivakumar said, adding that women had already proved they could manage their families while successfully handling any responsibility.

According to its website, the Ubuntu Consortium brings together women entrepreneurs' associations from across India to build an inclusive nationwide network.

"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 entrepreneurs for overcoming the financial challenges of running enterprises and pledged the government's full support to them.

Citing Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, he said she had overcome setbacks—including the deaths of her mother-in-law, former prime minister Indira Gandhi, and her husband, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi—to go on and lead the party.

"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.

Citing Draupadi and Kunti from the Mahabharata, Shivakumar said women had immense talent and potential, and urged them to take up leadership roles.

"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.

He urged entrepreneurs to back the tunnel project planned to ease traffic congestion in Bengaluru, calling opposition to it "politically motivated." Bengaluru, he said, was expanding rapidly and now had 1.4 crore vehicles, with the government spending Rs 1.5 lakh crore on infrastructure to strengthen the city's transport system.

Urging women entrepreneurs not to lose confidence, Shivakumar said the state government had immense faith in them 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.