District administration Pulwama today organized a function in collaboration with ICDS Department to celebrate Girl Child Day in the district to acknowledge her equal status and position in society and to fight the disadvantages, discrimination and inequalities the girl child faces in our society.The function held at ICDS Project Pulwama was presided over by District Development Commissioner, Ghulam Mohammad Dar.On the occasion, the DDC felicitated 13 newborn baby girls along with their mothers. Similar functions were held at Sub Divisional and block levels in the district.The DDC Pulwama said that the parents have to ensure health, education and success of their daughters as well as contribute to the development of their talents.He said that despite many girls achieving high in various fields, the stark reality for most girls is that they are still deprived of basic rights like equal access to education, health, married off early as child etc. As a result, they remain economically disempowered, abused and violated.He said that decline in child sex-ration is a major indicator of women disempowerment as it reflects both pre-birth discrimination manifested through gender-biased sex selection and post-birth discrimination against girls.The DDC said that sex determination of a foetus is a major social evil and all those involved in such activities should be punished and directed the health officials to strictly implement PC&PNDT Act in the district.Later, he flagged off a special mobile van meant for door to door campaign displaying the importance of girl child