Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi said that ‘Beti Bachoo Beti Padhao’ is the fourth initiative of the Union Government after Jan Dhan Yojna, Swaach Bharat Abhiyan and Make in India.
She was speaking on the inaugural function of two day, National Thematic Workshop on Women and Child Development held at Panipat, today.She said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had announced this scheme in his Independence Day speech and choose Haryana to start this campaign as it was one of the States which had declining female sex ratio.Smt Gandhi said that 100 districts with low female sex ratio have been selected from all over the country. The campaign will be launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 22 January, 2015 at Panipat and later will be implemented in other districts.This campaign would be extensively carried out to bring positive psychological change in the mindset of the people regarding girl child, she added. She urged the State Governments and the Deputy Commissioners and other functionaries to work in tandem for the cause of Beti Bachao and Beti Padhao and report the innovative programmes and initiatives taken by them which would be later sent to Prime Minister for review. She further added a reward of Rs One crore will be givento the innovative village which attains a balanced sex ratio and District Commissioner or Ambassadors of the campaign will be suitably rewarded by the Government. Smt Gandhi emphasized to look for innovative solutions to end violence and crime against women and end the dowry system which was the root cause of female foeticide. She said that ‘Paraya Dhan’ notion has to be discouraged in the society so that parents would not hesitate to give birth to a girl child and worry about their future. Smt. Gandhi said a society without women would be full of violence as women bring gentleness, love and happiness. She showed her concern that out of 46 per cent children affected of malnutrition in the country about 70 per cent of them weregirl child. She said that after assuming the office as Minister she emphasized on strengthening the National Commission of Women and on 33 per cent reservation for females in the police force.
Addressing the workshop, Haryana Chief Minister Shri Manohar Lal said that that low sex ratio in Haryana is a concern and a challenge for us but visit of Prime Minister would provide us inspiration to improve the sex ratio as compared to other states.
He said the Chief Ministers, Ministers of Women and Child Development and delegates of various states were participating in this workshop which would provide an apt platform for sharing the achievements and innovative ideas to combat the menace of female foeticide and gender inequality and problem of malnutrition in children. Chief Minister said all schemes for women empowerment in Haryana will be launched on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8. He said that the woman has a special place in our constitution and efforts would be made to ensure their participation in every field including governance, administration, government jobs and education. All these efforts would lead to improve the literacy rate of women in the state which is 65.47 per cent at present.
While lauding the programmes of mass marriages implemented by Gujarat, the Chief Minister said that assistance is provided by the government to solemnize mass marriages. Haryana Government would also implement this scheme in the state. He said that the state government would bring a reform in ongoing Ladli scheme so that the girl child is not treated as a burden on the family.
Speaking on this occasion, Gujarat Chief Minister Smt.Anandi Ben Patel applauded the efforts put in by the Haryana Chief Minister in organizing the workshop on an important issue of women and child development. She said that in year 2001, the literacy rate of women in Gujarat was only 59 per cent which has increased to 74 per cent in year 2011 due to the implementation of various programmes under the guidance of then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Sh. Narendra Modi. Also the rate of institutional deliveries has reached to 95 per cent in Gujarat. She said that the state government had set up two lakh ‘Sakhi Mandal’ so as to ensure the economic development of women. As many as 30 lakh women have so far been associated with these mandals. In addition, the state government also waived the stamp duty on the purchase of property in the name of women. A sum of Rs.651 crore had so far been waived off as stamp duty. Recently, she had also announced a reservation of 33 per cent for women in the police force. She also listed a number of other schemes of women empowerment being implemented by Gujarat government.
Haryana Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Kavita Jain said that today is a historical day for the people of the state as an important workshop has kicked off for the betterment of girl child. She said that Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi has taken an important step towards fulfilling his promise of ensuring the safety, security and empowerment of women.
Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicober Islands, Lt. Gen (Retd.) A.K Singh, Secretary, Women and Child Development, Sh V S Oberoi, Chief Secretary, Haryana, D S Dhesi and other dignitaries were also present on this occasion.