Following the launch of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme, the child sex ratio in Haryana has reached 889 per 1,000 boys and efforts are being made to further take it to above 900, said Chief Minister Manohar lal on Thursday.
The Chief Minister said that since 2005, the sex ratio in Haryana had been on the decline creating lot of imbalance in the society.
last year, the State Government took the BBBP as a mission and reviewed the sex ratio every month. This, together with the other steps taken by the Government, has helped in increasing the sex ratio to 889 in November, 2015 which is a matter of pride, said the Chief Minister while speaking after flagging off the ‘Sashakt Beti Sashakt Bharat’ awareness march in Panchkula.
He added, “Now, efforts were being made to further increase the figure to above 900. Besides the Government, active participation by all sections of the society, including educationists, social and non-Government organisations, is necessary to achieve the goal.”
The State Government had in July appointed actress Parineeti Chopra as brand ambassador for the ‘BBBP’ programme to promote the cause of the girl child.
Notably, Haryana had recorded the lowest child sex ratio of 834 compared to the national average of 919 (according to census of India 2011).
Manohar lal said that though everybody, including politicians, educationists etc, were aware about the ill-effects of imbalanced sex ratio but it was only the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took upon himself the task of eradicating the menace of female feticide and setting right the skewed sex ratio in the country. He had launched Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme from Panipat on January 22, 2015.
He further said that the State Government is committed to eradicate crime from the society. An atmosphere has been created in the state against the heinous act of female foeticide. The PNDT Act is being strictly implemented and those found involved in female foeticide have been put behind bars after registering cases against them.
With a view to empowering women, separate women’s police stations have been set up in all districts to enable women victims to lodge complaints without any fear. However, much more needs to be done in this direction, he added.
To ensure that parents do not consider girl child as a burden, various schemes have been started, said he.
Meanwhile, about 150 girl students from 18 districts of Haryana participated in the awareness march being organized to generate awareness among the people regarding women empowerment. The awareness march would pass through 23 places in 12 districts before culminating at Raj Ghat in New Delhi, on January 14.