Expressing pride over the achievements of girls in Haryana, the Chief Minister Manohar Lal on Wednesday said that our daughters have not only brought laurels to the state but also to the nation across the world.
The Chief Minister was interacting with VLCC Femina Miss Grand India 2020, Manika Sheokand at his residence. Manika, a Chemical Engineer hails from Jind district of Haryana.
Manohar Lal said that besides the field of sports, education, management, agriculture, industry, our daughters have also been excelling in the field of films and beauty contests.
While congratulating Manika and her entire family, the Chief Minister said that the entire state is proud of her achievement today.
He extended his best wishes and hoped that she would win the world beauty contest by making efforts in the same manner.
On Chief Minister’s suggestion, Manika agreed to become the brand ambassador of ‘Mera Pani-Meri Virasat’ scheme in the state.
The Chief Minister said that in view of declining groundwater level in Haryana, there is a great need to save water. For this purpose, we have implemented ‘Mera Pani - Meri Virasat Yojana’. In this scheme, an incentive amount of Rs 7,000 per acre is being given to the farmers who have been sowing less water-consuming crops for replacing paddy. He said that during Kharif-2020, paddy replacing crops were sown on 97,000 acres of land due to which paddy production has also reduced this time.
Speaking on this occasion, Manika expressed her objective to work on environmental protection in future. Besides saving water, air and soil for the protection of the environment, it is also necessary to dispose of the used products properly, she said.
Specifically referring to sanitary napkins, she said that instead of using plastic in making sanitary napkins, biodegradable materials like cotton, bamboo, banana, jute etc. should be used.
On this, the Chief Minister directed the officers present to take effective steps after consulting the entrepreneurs in this regard. Observing Manika’s interest in protecting the environment, the Chief Minister suggested her to be the brand ambassador of ‘Mera Pani-Meri Virasat’ Scheme in the state to which Manika and her family immediately agreed.
Referring to the achievements of the daughters of the State, the Chief Minister said that Manika is the third daughter of the state in the last six years, who has brought laurels to the state in the beauty contests. Earlier, Manushi Chillar and Meenakshi performed well in similar beauty contests. Manushi Chillar became Miss World in 2017, while Meenakshi was the runner-up in 2018.
He said that by winning medals in the field of sports, the daughters of the state have proved their mettle. A camp is currently underway to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics. Out of 37 women boxers selected in the country, 22 women boxers are from Haryana, he said.
About the ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ campaign, the Chief Minister said that now this campaign is not limited to saving and educating the daughters, but has gone further to support them in every field. He said that the sex ratio in the state has increased from 871 to 922 as a result of this campaign, which is appreciable.
On the occasion, he presented Shrimad Bhagavad Gita with a shawl to Manika and urged her to study and follow the teachings of Gita.