Need to spread benefits of reforms evenly: Patil

President Pratibha Patil today advocated reforms to ensure the benefits of economic liberalisation reach everybody.

In her first address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day, Patil said, "We have to take special care to bring in egalitarian reforms to ensure that the full benefit of economic liberalisation reaches people at all levels. Growth, when unevenly spread, dwarfs overall prosperity. Only through socially inclusive growth can there be sustained consistency in our growth rates," the 72-year-old president said in her maiden address after assuming office in July.

She said the country had "to ensure equitable growth for all. The fruits of economic development must necessarily touch, especially, the living and working conditions of our toiling masses and people below the poverty line."

With this, she said, the dream of the freedom fighters of transforming political freedom into a vehicle for attaining the goal of equality and prosperity for all would be achieved.

She pointed out that the "empowerment of our economically deprived section of the society still remains unaccomplished".

"Progress must relate to the lives of the people and we have to conscientiously discharge our responsibilities towards uplifting the socially and economically disadvantaged and weaker sections of society," she said.

As the country's first woman president, Patil did not forget to mention the contribution of the fair sex in building the nation.

"History bears sufficient proof that our womenfolk have excelled themselves not only as able home-makers but in devoting themselves to the noble task of nation building. Let us resolve that they are not left marginalised in our society," she said.