Three-day yatras for 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' flagged off in Haryana

CHANDIGARH: Ahead of the launch of government's ' Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, Union and state ministers today flagged off three-day awareness tours from 12 districts of Haryana with a view to sensitise people about security and education of the girl child.

Union Minister for Rural Development Birender Singh flagged off the yatra at Kaithal, Union Minister of State for Planning and Defence Rao Inderjeet Singh at Karnal and Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishanpal Gujjar at Palwal, an official spokesman said here.

On the occasion, the ministers also administered pledge to people to curb female foeticide.

The spokesman said several awareness yatras would be flagged off at various places in the state by Union and Haryana ministers tomorrow as well.

Addressing the gathering in Kaithal, Birender Singh said women in their role of mother- in-law, daughter-in-law and a sister-in-law should stand up against those who pressurise and persuade them for female foeticide.

Singh further said that providing education to women and making them financially independent were most essential to completely eliminate this social evil.

Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu, in his address in Rohtak, said that he would recommend Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to give incentives to villages and wards which have better sex ratio.

With Haryana infamous for adverse sex ratio, he said that adverse sex ratio in about 100 districts of the country including 12 districts of Haryana is a issue of grave concern.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken this initiative against declining sex ratio and practice of female foeticide can be curbed with participation of people," he said.

Government's ambitious 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme' to improve the child sex ratio (CSR) will be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22.