Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary today urged the parents to take initiative for getting their daughters trained in the art of self-defence and martial arts so that they can protect themselves from unlawful elements in the society. This would instill confidence in the girls and would be a step in the direction of ensuring their safety, he stressed.The further asked them to educate the girl child as much as they can and make them self-dependent. An educated girl not only leads her family but also leads the society and the country towards path of progress, he added.The Minister said this after witnessing an exceptional performance on self-defence presented by the girl students of New National Higher Secondary School during annual day celebrations of the school.Citing examples of the girls who have made the country proud in various fields at national and international levels, the Minster said that sky is the limit for the girls in the country and no force in this World can stop them from realizing their dreams. The state government has also taken many initiatives for helping the girls in achieving their targets, he said, adding that parents must come forward and take optimum benefit of these schemes.The Minister further said the students have to work very hard to make their mark in this hard competitive world. There is a need to properly guide them right from the beginning so that they can face the challenges ahead easily, he added.MLC Charanjeet Singh Khalsa, IGP (Retd.)Dr Kamal Saini, Principal of School Balkaran Singh and parents of students were present on the occasion.