The President of India, Droupadi Murmu attended a civic reception hosted by the Government of Goa on Tuesday evening (August 22, 2023) in her honour at Raj Bhavan, Goa. She also distributed ‘Sanad’ under the Forest Rights Act to some beneficiaries on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the President thanked the people of Goa for the warm welcome. She was happy to note that Goa is performing well on the parameters of Sustainable Development Goals. She stated that Goa is among the leading states of the country in many areas of development.
The President praised the people of Goa for their generosity and hospitality. She said that this characteristic of the people of Goa is as important in attracting tourists as the beaches and the natural beauty of the Western Ghats.
The President said that rich forest cover is a priceless natural asset of Goa and it should be conserved. The dense forests of the Western Ghats are the natural habitat of many wild animals. Preservation of this natural heritage would give impetus to the sustainable development of Goa. She emphasised that tribal and other forest dwellers should be made partners in development, while preserving their traditions.
The President said that apart from being a tourist hot-spot, Goa is also an important centre for education, trade & commerce, industry, technology and naval defence.
The President said that the cosmopolitan culture of Goa has a tradition of gender equality. She was happy to note that the strength of girl students in higher educational institutions of Goa is more than 60 percent. There is a need to increase the participation of women in the workforce of Goa, she stressed.
The President recalled the contributions of people of Goa in various fields such as sports, arts, public service, spirituality and literature. She expressed confidence that Goa would move forward while making a balance between modernity and tradition.
