Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday launched ‘Kangre Di Munni’, an initiative of district administration and a step towards ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ in Kangra.
lauding the efforts of the district administration, the Chief Minister said that such an initiative would help save girl child and would go a long way in improving the girl sex ratio.
He said that those violating the Pre-Natal Diagnostic (PNDT) Act, would be punished and a strict monitoring would be done of the private clinics. Even the parents who were found to be involved in sex determination and resorting to abortion would be held liable for harsh punishment. Though the sex ratio in the state was quite good, yet there were few districts as Una, Hamirpur and Kangra, where the sex ratio was low, said he.
Virbhadra Singh said that an awareness campaign needs to launched all over the state, as the girl child also have equal right to live and they should be well taught and brought up. Only those societies prosper, who respect the women and work for their empowerment, said he.
The Chief Minister also launched a logo, a caller tune, a Facebook page and a special brochure on the girl child on the occasion.
He also celebrated the birthday of girl child who were born in the month of May and present on the occasion by cutting a cake and congratulating them.
Deputy Commissioner, Ritesh Chauhan, while briefing about the campaign said that after going through the figures of census 2011, it was a cause of worry to learn that the sex ratio of girl child between 0 to 6 was declining fast, as it was 876/1000 in the district.
He said the district administration had involved Aanganwari Kendras and Mahila Mandals to make scheme a success. A new initiative had also been taken to celebrate the birth of new born girl child by organizing traditional Kangri Feast (Dham) named ‘Muniya Di Dham’.
Apart from this all the Block Development Officers (BDOs), DRDA staff, ADM, SDMs, had adopted a girl child each and taken up the responsibility of their studies and well-being. Besides, Punjab National Bank (PNB) had also adopted 10 number of girl child and would cater to the needs of their education in the district, said he.
He added that tracker devices would also be set up in hospitals and private clinics to keep a watch over those involved in heinous crime of female foeticide and suitable action would be taken against the guilty.