#womengenderissues

Speaking as a chief guest at the golden jubilee function of the Tribal Research and Training Institute (TRTI), President Pranab Mukherjee said on Saturday that there is a lot for the Indian society to learn from the tribals — especially about how to treat women. He said that at a time when crimes against women are making news, the tribal traditions put forth example of chivalry worth of emulation.

"Presently, there is an increasing concern in the country about women's safety as well as general moral decadence in the society. A peek into gender behaviour and relation tribal communities hold a significant society at large. At such a time we should try and learn from out tribal brothers. They have a long tradition of gender equality and treating women with respect," said the president at the function held at Balgandharva Auditorium.

Mukherjee said that while some of the objectives of the tribal policy were achieved in last sixty years of independence, lot remained to be done for empowerment of the tribals and their inclusion into the main stream.

"The tribal development policy of the country was envisaged by the first prime minister of the country Jawaharlal Nehru. Leaders of freedom struggle had understood the importance of inclusion of each and every segment of the Indian society in the movement of independence including the tribals. Empowerment of the tribals was one of the 18-point formula for development of the country devised by the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. In last sixty years we have progressed on this path, however much remains to be done. A multipronged strategy needs to be adopted so that the schemes which are devised for the tribals actually benefit them," said Mukherjee.

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar during the event said that, while the tribal tradition in India was rich, they had remained backward in many aspects while India as general has progressed.