Chief Minister Raman Singh on Friday felicitated 31 meritorious students and five teachers of 36 different schools with '' Chhattisgarh Jewels'' award on the occasion of the concluding ceremony of the 'Child Rights Protection Convention Week' held at the Indoor stadium here.
The Chief Minister on the occasion assured the audience that the State Government is determined to elevate the status of the Girl Child and that of all girls in the society.
He said that the protection of child rights is the duty of the authorities as well as that of the society.
The Chief Minister said that it was a cause for celebration that the male-female ratio in Chhattisgarh is second to Kerala in the entire
country.
“It is a proud achievement for the entire State.”
School Education Kedar Kashyap presided over the function.
UNICEF Brand Ambassador and Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor was present as a special guest.
Singh on the occasion, launched a Web application ''CG Edutrek'' which will monitor the progress of students and teachers in schools.
He said that to encourage education, the State Government had launched several schemes for the benefit of both boys and girls.
Better hostel accommodation is being provided from Bastar to Surguja to all the girl students. The education is free for the girl child from Standard one to 12th. Higher studies like B.A., B.Sc , Medical and Engineering is available free-of-cost to girls belonging to the poor families, Singh said.
Girls from Chhattisgarh have attained distinction in almost all fields and brought laurels at the national level. The State is committed to eliminate foeticide and child marriages as soon as possible.
The mission to protect child rights will be a grand success all over the country, he said.
School Education Minister Kedar Kashyap said that various welfare schemes for girls are bringing results in almost all sectors.
Saraswati Cycle Yojana had brought a huge jump in girls' attendance in schools. About 93 per cent girls attend Middle Schools in the State. Around one lakh girls are taking advantage of hostel facilities.
UNICEF Brand Ambassador Kareena Kapoor said that children are the future of the nation and daughters are the pride of Bharat.
It is a challenge to provide quality education to kids. It is heartening to note that several programmes are being carried on for Girl Child in Chhattisgarh and other regions, She said.
“Students are learning, but to a larger extent it is based on mugging process. Instead of mugging up lessons, stress should be laid on quality of learning and it may be possible with good environment and better student-teacher communication,” said Kapoor.Pointing out the importance of facilities like separate toilets for girls, availability of clean drinking water among other facilities, the actress said these factors play crucial role in continuation of Girl Child’s education.
Although, still, several schools in the country lack these facilities, but Government are now making extensive efforts in this direction.
The actress called upon the Girl Child to race ahead in life with higher education.
Kapoor also appreciated the efforts being made by the Chhattisgarh Government for education of girls.
Chhattisgarh School Education Department Secretary, Subrat Sahoo said that talented students and teachers of 36 high quality schools of all the districts are being felicitated with '' Chhattisgarh Ratna''.
The State is determined to provide all facilities to girl students to attain glory, he said. On the occasion, the students of J.R.Dani Girls' Higher Middle School presented a folk dance programme. A large number of students, people's representatives and officers were present at the function.
Women and Child Development Minister Ramsheela Sahu, Parliamentary Secretary Roopkumari Chowdhary, Ambesh Jangde, Chhattisgarh State Child Rights' Protection Commission Chairperson Shatabdi Pande and Raipur Development Authority Chairman Sanjay Srivastava were also present at the function.