Women are original creators, says Karnataka CM; cites Sita's role in Ramayana

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday described women as "original creators," arguing that nurturing and building new ventures comes naturally to them. He made the remarks while addressing a session on "Empowering Women to Build a More Secure Tomorrow," organised with the Ubuntu Consortium and the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI).

Drawing from the Ramayana to illustrate his point, Mr. Shivakumar said Sita's role in the epic carries greater weight than that of Ram. "The sacrifices of Sita were great, the struggles she faced were incomparable. She managed society, managed her sons, maintained purity," he said.

The Chief Minister asserted that women should not be restricted to domestic responsibilities when they have the capability to lead institutions, governments, and businesses, and crucially, to generate employment. Addressing women entrepreneurs, industrialists, and representatives of financial bodies from across India and abroad, he said women could be both creators of jobs and drivers of social change.

Highlighting the state government's initiatives, Mr. Shivakumar pointed to the Shakti scheme, which provides free bus travel for women on state-run transport, and Gruha Lakshmi, which offers ₹2,000 per month to woman heads of households. He said such schemes boost women's purchasing power and help circulate money within the economy. He also noted that the government provides concessional credit to women entrepreneurs at a 4% interest rate.

On political representation, Mr. Shivakumar stressed that greater participation of women in elected bodies is essential for strengthening democracy. With political parties broadly accepting women's reservation, he said the focus should now shift to preparing educated and capable women for leadership roles in panchayats, legislatures, and Parliament.

Turning to Bengaluru, the Chief Minister noted that women professionals already play a significant role in the city's economy. He pointed out that more than 40% of doctors produced in Bengaluru are women, and the city has emerged as a major global technology hub.