Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Haryana to raise concerns over the highly questionable record of Haryana on the sex ratio. The Prime Minister spoke about Haryana’s problems with its daughters. He made a pitched stand against female foeticide in the State, which is a reliable occupant of the bottom of the sex ratio lists. He stressed that it is the responsibility of not only the Government but also the people. They should understand girls are winning gold medals and silver medals in different games, he said.
Speaking at the gala organised by the State Government in Gurgaon, Modi began by praising Haryana’s contributions to India. “In such a distinguished State, female foeticide cannot exist,” he said. “The daughters of Haryana have brought laurels and pride on multiple occasions. Not just Haryana, they have repeatedly made all of India proud. let every citizen of Haryana pledge to protect the girl child,” he said, adding that the Haryana Government had taken many steps to prevent female foeticide.
On protecting the girl child, he said, “This golden jubilee year, every Haryanvi should take a pledge to save the girl child and there should be no let up in this regard and the girl child will not be allowed to be killed in the mother’s womb.”
He also thanked the elders and mothers of Haryana who took upon themselves to protect the girl child and helped in improving the sex ratio of the State.
Modi said he has also pondered why in a State with such values, which is always ready to accept new things and has been ahead in many areas, unborn girls are killed in mother’s womb.
“I want to commend people of Haryana that they respected the sentiment when I had begged for saving lives of girls when I launched Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign (from Panipat in January 2015).
“Today, I can say with satisfaction, that people of Haryana respected this sentiment. Gender ratio has improved in the country and if any State is making fast improvement in this, it is Haryana,” he said, noting that the daughters of Haryana, who have not just Haryana proud with their feats, but the entire country.
The Prime Minister said Haryana has taken fast strides in development and its people have made a mark in all spheres of life, and thus the State has the potential to steer the country forward and act as its growth engine.
“Haryana has the potential to steer the country forward as it is in such a position where it can provide this strength. If we move by bringing a change from the village and from each one’s land, it will have an effect across the country” he said.
He also pushed his Government’s policy priorities at the Haryana Swarna Jayanti Celebrations. Noting the progress made so far, Modi called for increased action with the aim of making the state ‘open defecation-free’ in the golden jubilee year.
He also praised the efforts being made to phase out the use of kerosene stoves in the rural areas of the State. “Whatever money you think you are saving by using kerosene, I will ensure you get that money. But please stop using kerosene,” the PM appealed to laughter from the crowd.
He also pitched the idea of beginning Haryana’s transformation in its villages considering the State’s rural and agrarian nature. “May the process of transformation begin in our villages and when this happens, the development of Haryana will receive an impetus,” said Modi.
Modi asked if every Haryanvi takes one step forward this golden jubilee and the State takes 2.5 crore steps forward, can any State go ahead of Haryana which was carved out of the then joint Punjab on November 1, 1966, turned 50 on Tuesday. “Should we not make Haryana number oneIJ There are many strengths which we are yet to recognize,” he said.
Earlier the Prime Minister inaugurated Haryana Swarna Jayanti Utsav on Tuesday. He also launched “Din Dayal Aawas Yojana” in a view to achieve affordable housing to all by the year 2022.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Kattar, while addressing the gathering in Tau Devilal stadium, announced that the State has achieved the target to curb open defecation. Eight districts of the State have declared open-defecation free, he added.
“Haryana has implemented PM Ujjawala Yojana by providing lPG connection to poor and BPl. We have been able to make kerosene oil free State by 2017,” said Khattar.