led by State Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Development, Rekha Arya, the cycle rally reached Pantdweep near Har Ki Paudi on Sunday noon. She was joined by Union Minister Maneka Gandhi and State Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Maneka Gandhi said, “After Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, when I was given the portfolio of Women and Child Development Minister, he gave me the responsibility of birth, the safety and education of girls and also to work emphatically on the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign.
Giving shape to PM’s vision, we have worked in many States of the country for improving female sex ratio with positive results. In the State of Uttarakhand, a lot of improvement has been achieved in Champawat district in the female sex ratio. Each one must contribute in the formation of a new India by changing the mentality,” she said.
Beginning her address with Vande Matram and the slogan of save girl child, educate her, State Minister Rekha Arya said, “Three years ago, before becoming the Prime Minister of the country, Narendra Modi had asked to focus on Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. The purpose of this rally is to get the pledge of the twin cities of Dehradun and Haridwar to pledge their bit in facilitating improvement in the child sex ratio. The evil of female foeticide is a sin akin to cow slaughter,” she said.
The Minister also said that people were appreciative of how the cyclists could cover the distance from Dehradun to Haridwar on cycles in four hours.
She said this was a true example of woman empowerment. The 55 kilometre stretch between the two cities was covered on the strength of mental will more than physical strength.
She said it was a historical awareness programme also working to empower women by taking pledge of educating the girl child and save the girl child on the birth anniversary of Narendra Modi.
She exhorted the members of the religious fraternity present on the occasion to address the issue in their discourses and warn the people from the sinful act of female foeticide.
A street play on the said theme was also showcased on the programme site.
The Union Minister was honoured with a memento on the occasion. The Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik said, “The determination to accomplish a task brings success for certain. This stubbornness and determination has been shown by both the Union Minister Maneka Gandhi and Rekha Arya. This was the result of inspiration and mental resolution of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
The Minister said that everyone in Haridwar shall have to resolve to improve the child sex ratio in the district in one year. The birth anniversary of the PM was being celebrated as ‘sewa sankalp diwas’ and the fortnight long cleanliness drive shall be carried out in the district and across the State.
The Ministers also carried out cleanliness drive at Har Ki Paudi with brooms in their hands.
Earlier, the State Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat flagged off Arya and many other cyclists on their journey from the police line in Dehradun. The cyclists made about half a dozen halts aimed at spreading public awareness during their trip to Haridwar.