Ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget on February 1, President Droupadi Murmu addressed both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday. She assured the parliamentarians of the government’s commitment to ensuring social justice.
Amid uproar in the Opposition benches, Murmu announced that social security benefits are now available to nearly 95 crore citizens of the country. “My government is committed to true social justice,” she said, adding that 25 crore Indians moved out of poverty in the last 10 years.
The Centre has been successful in tackling corruption and ensuring proper use of public funds, she claimed, adding that in the third term of the government work is being done to further empower the poor.
Also Read: Budget in 'final stage':FM takes part in customary Halwa ceremony
Touching upon Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s visit to the International Space Station, Murmu said his space odyssey was the beginning of a historic journey that opened space tourism to common Indian citizens.
“Subhanshu Shukla reaching the International Space Station (ISS) is the beginning of a historic journey. In the coming years, India is moving towards building its own space station,” she said.
“The nation is working enthusiastically on the Gaganyaan mission,” the President said, amid thumping of desks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders present in the Lok Sabha chamber.
Shukla undertook an 18-day mission on the ISS in June-July last year, the first Indian to visit the orbital lab. Earlier, astronaut Rakesh Sharma had undertaken a space sojourn to Russian space station Salyut-7 in 1984.
Follow us
