Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday called upon the concerned citizens to give a clarion call to abolish female foeticide and sexual harassment cases in the State.
It should not be limited to just shouting slogans but be implemented on the ground. The entire society should be liberated from these evil practices. Awareness should be spread among the masses apart from women's empowerment. Severe punishment should be awarded to heinous crimes like infanticide, he said.
The Chief Minister was addressing the State-level Women's Conference on the occasion of International Women's Day at Indoor Stadium here. The theme of the Conference was ''Beti Bachao-Beti Padao''.
Singh at the outset, lit a lamp and the inaugurated the Conference.
In his address, Singh who was the chief guest said that it is our great historical heritage that Goddesses preside in all corners of Chhattisgarh. Maa Bambleshwari at Dongarhgarh, Danteshwari in Dantewada, Mahamaya at Ratanpur and Maa Chandrahaasini at Chandrapur are presiding deities.
Chhattisgarh is racing ahead on the path of rapid socio-economic development because of the blessings of these Goddesses, he said.
Singh said that Chhattisgarh is the birth place of lord Sri Ram's mother Maa Kaushalya.
The Chief Minister in the occasion also launched 'Noni Suraksha Yojana' software, 10 videos on women and child issues and a booklet 'Jigyasa' on issues and questions raised by minor girls.
Singh also felicitated six Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for working towards empowerment of women in all fields and many women.
He also felicitated physically handicapped girls, minors and women for excelling in music, swimming and sword fighting.
The Chief Minister said the State Government is operating many schemes for the overall development of children and women. The budget of Women and Child Development Department was Rs 63.83 lakh at the time of formation of Chhattisgarh and now it is Rs 770 crore, he said.
Singh said that it was a matter of pride that Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated Phoolbasan Bai for her great work in Women's literacy and welfare at Dongargarh.
The Prime Minister sought the blessings of 104-year-old Kunwar Bai who constructed a toilet from the earnings of goat rearing. During the past decade, there was an increase in eight per cent literacy among women and six per cent among men, he said.
Still there is a lot of work to be done in the field of women's literacy. The male-female (1000-991) ratio in Chhattisgarh is second best to Kerala. The malnourishment is down to 30 % which is a remarkable achievement. In the year 2013-14 it was 52 per cent. The Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate had fallen drastically, Singh said.
He called upon the women to make the State 'Open Defecation-Free'' in the next two to three years. Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Gourishankar Agrawal and Women and Child Development Minister Ramsheela Sahu also addressed the gathering.