Women are playing a leadership role in development: Radha Krishnan

Vice President of India C P Radhakrishnan said on Tuesday that women are playing a leading role in the development process with the help of initiatives like 'Lakshmi Didi' and 'Namo Dron Didi'.
Mr. Radhakrishnan extended greetings to all administrative officers and their retired colleagues working across the country on the occasion of the 18th Civil Services Day today. He recalled that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister of independent India, had addressed the officers under training of the Administrative Services in Delhi, in which he had termed the administrative officers as the "pillar of India". It has been 79 years since then. He said that different batches of officers have continuously maintained this legacy and worked as a solid foundation for the country's development and prosperity. He termed the administrative officers working in different states as the biggest ambassador of national unity and integrity.
Referring to the unprecedented development achieved during the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Vice President highlighted the guiding vision of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Pryas". He mentioned key achievements, including lifting about 25 crore people out of poverty, building more than 4 crore houses for the poor, and developing border villages as vibrant communities. He said that women are playing a significant role in development with the help of initiatives like Lakshmi Didi and Namo Dron Didi.
He also mentioned important programs like the 'Aspirational Districts' program and 'One District One Product' and emphasized that no state or district should be left behind. Appreciating the administrative officers as the real implementers of government policies, he said that their integrity has played a crucial role in these successes. He emphasized that every citizen should experience the principles of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Pryas'.
The Vice President said that India still has a long way to go on the path to a developed India by 2047. He appealed for continuous commitment, honesty, and focus on delivering services to the last person to ensure comprehensive development and effective governance. Reiterating the Prime Minister's vision, he emphasized that it is the responsibility of administrative officers to ensure that no citizen is left behind.
He emphasized that the era of relying solely on general knowledge holders in administrative services is over and demanded more specialization. He also appealed to the states to adopt forward-looking recruitment policies to strengthen governance. He encouraged civil servants to adopt emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Block Chain.
The Vice President expressed satisfaction over the increasing participation of women in administrative services. He stated that the share of women was around 21 percent in 2016, which has increased to around 31 percent in the 2025 exam, and many women are now holding senior positions. He termed it as solid evidence of 'Nari Shakti', which is not just a numerical change but also a change in thought process. He hoped for similar progress in legislative bodies through 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam'.