"Celebration of the International Women’s Day on March 8 is yet another opportunity to dedicate ourselves to strive for a world based on gender equality and justice. Women’s movement which is redefining development and our outlook for a gender friendly approach has emerged as a path-breaking movement in the history of mankind surpassing every major movement and even revolution in history. In spite of the severe challenges it confronts in the form of violence against women, female foeticide, adverse sex ratio and greater incidence of poverty among women the movement has become irreversible and will culminate in establishment of a sane, sustainable and peaceful world order. Indian women as part of this epoch making movement have played on exemplary role and will continue to be a major determinant of its future progress for higher levels of achievement.

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, I have great pleasure in extending my greetings and good wishes to the women of India for the success of the Women’s Day celebrations".