Watch Video | President Kovind address to nation on Republic Day Eve: We need to build a nation where girls have equal opportunity

President Ram Nath Kovind on eve of Republic Day address the nation for the first time on the eve of 69th Republic Day of India. This is his first address to the nation on Republic Day eve since after taking over as the first citizen of the country in July 2017.

Earlier in the day, President Kovind received the ASEAN Heads of State and Government at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Here are highlights from the speech:

7: 17 pm: Republic nation in one Where one can disagree with another viewpoint – or even with a historical context - without mocking a fellow citizen’s dignity and personal space.  

7: 16 pm: A civic-minded nation is built by civic-minded neighbourhoods,whether in our cities or villages. Where we respect the next-door person’s space, privacy and rights. 

7: 16 pm:  We need to build a nation where girls are given equal oppurtunities like boys in terms of education and healthcare.

7: 15 pm: A government can come out with several laws to protect rights of women, but it will reap benefit only when their voices are heard.

7:14 pm : We have to make a equal oppurtunity for our daughters

7:13 pm: We need to work to improve life quality for our farmers.

7:12pm: He recalls contributions of sanitary workers who keep the nation clean, teachers who educate the people, nurses who serve the people, scientists who innovate and engineers who help build new infrastructure.

7:10 pm: President pays tributes to soldiers who protect the nation, farmers who feed the country, to police and paramilitary forces who provide security to the nation, to all mothers who take care of us, and to doctors who treat people when ill.

7: 09 pm: It was with the framing and adoption of the Constitution that we truly achieved the ethic of equality among all citizens, irrespective of religion, region or community.

7:08 pm : This is a day to remember with gratitude the enormous efforts and sacrifices of millions of freedom fighters whose blood and sweat gave us Independence and created our Republic.

7: 08 pm: We got Independence after a great struggle in which millions had participated. Many laid their lives for freedom. 

7.07pm: People of the country forms the democracy. They are not just part of democracy but are its pillar. Every citizen give strength to the democracy

7.05pm: Kovind pays tributes to freedom fighters who fought for independence.

7.02pm: President Ram Nath Kovind greets people on eve of Republic Day.