Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday made an emotional appeal to the people of the country to save the girl child saying he had come as a beggar to beg for the lives of daughters.
“I have come as a beggar (bhikshuk)to beg for the lives of daughters,” he said, as he addressed a large gathering of people who had come from all parts of the State, including women in large number.
At the launch of the National Programme "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, he said we have no right to call ourselves 21st century citizens as long as we have an 18th century mindset.
The Prime Minister recalled the example of Jayapur village in Varanasi. On his advice, this village now holds an anandotsav (celebration) on the birth of each girl child, and five trees are planted on each such occasion. He said, people across the country could follow this example.
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi said that this scheme can only be a success if countrymen and the Government work in tandem. She also announced the formation of ‘One Stop Crisis Centre’ to stop crime against women and provide prompt assistance. She urged the people to associate themselves with BBBP programme so as to make it successful. Quoting example of Gujarat, she said that Gujarat Government had given 33 per cent reservation to women in police. This practice should also be followed in entire country including Haryana so as to ensure security of women.
Special invitee, noted film star Madhuri Dixit exhorted the audience to provide the girl child with nutrition and education and empower
them. She applauded the Government‘s initiative and expressed the hope that the scheme would help in changing the people’s mind set in ushering in a golden period.
She said it is a matter of pride that new Union Government in its first year had launched BBBP scheme for ensuring safety and education of girls. Presently the situation is alarming concerning gender balances in the country. There is need to change the mindset of people to completely eradicate the social evil from the society.