THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Welfare policies should be made more inclusive so as to truly empower the weaker sections, Governor P Sathasivam said on Monday. In his Indepen-dence Day message, he said it was through such empow-erment and social justice the essence of true freedom reaches every citizen and strengthens our nation further. He said the people were duty-bound to uphold the highest standards of democratic tradition and to honour the sacrifice of the hundreds of known and unsung patriots who lost their lives in the struggle for Independence.