Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh today launched “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” week celebration being observed across the nation with theme “The Daughters of New India” at Government Post Graduate College for Women Gandhi Nagar.“Aimed at to ensure that girls are born, nurtured and educated without any kind of discrimination, the scheme would immensely help the females become empowered and self dependent citizens of the country”, the Deputy CM maintained .The weeklong celebration with effect from Oct 9th to 14th, 2017 is being organized by the district Task Force BBBP in collaboration with Song and Drama Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.Minister of State for Education Priya Sethi, and Legislator Krishan Lal were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nirmal Singh said that the objective of the scheme 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' is to make people aware about the importance of girl child in the society besides bringing about an attitudinal change among the people girl child. In this regard, he emphasized the role of media as of utmost importance in proper and timely dissemination of information about such innovative schemes of the government among the people. “Media is effectively instrumental in transforming the conventional mindsets of people towards the changing needs and trends in the society as it has direct and strongest impact on our minds”, asserted the Deputy CM.The Deputy Chief Minister also stressed upon the parents to understand their role in ensuring that their girl child gets proper upbringing, education and all facilities for their overall development and emancipation. He exhorted upon them to take optimum benefit of schemes envisaging empowerment of girls for a flourished and prosperous society.
Referring to initiatives of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for ensuring empowerment of women and girl child, Dr Singh said that the Beti Bacho Beti Padho scheme is being implemented in mission mode so that the girl child gets benefitted from this landmark programme. Priya Sethi, while lauding the role of district administration, stressed that all the schemes related to females being run by the Central Government as well as state government should be widely publicized so that their benefits could reach to the real beneficiaries.
The Minister said that the parents have to ensure a healthy life and enhanced education opportunities to their daughters for their overall development.Priya Sethi said that earlier we celebrated Women's day once a year to acknowledge the contributions of women and creare awareness but our Prime Minister envisioned that the goal of bringing about a positive change in the society about the girl child can only be achieved by making it a constant process wherein all stakeholders join hands to ensure a conducive atmosphere for the girls.She said that Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is a major initiative to bring about a perceptible change at the grassroot level and stressed on participation of boys in such awareness programmes so that they can be sensitized about the issue.She said that the state and central government have taken various steps towards women empowerment and providing better growth opportunities. Listing various such initiatives she said that increasing the maternity leave to 26 weeks has been a appreciable step of central government. The state government is also making concerted efforts to ensure that the girl child gets ample opportunities to get quality education and in this regard waiving off school fee of girl students in state run educational institutions is a major step among other initiatives ,she asserted.
On the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister in presence of other dignitaries flagged off mobile exhibition Van besides launching Facebook page regarding online services of BBBP.Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister also launched Grievances Portal Samadhan for online submission and processing of citizen services.The dignitaries also felicitated females under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme for their exemplary performance in different fields including MoS Priya Sethi, Additional Commissioner Rehana Batul, Station Director Radio Kashmir Jammu Anjali Sharma, Director Floriculture Babila Rakwal, Director Tourism Smita Sethi, Director Horticulture Anuradha Gupta, Regional Director Land Records Rifat Kohli, ADC Jammu Kanta Rakwal, Principal GMC Sunanda Raina, Head, Paediatrics Department Dr Rekha Harish, Medical Superintendent Govt Hospital Sarwal Dr Renu Sharma, Nodal Officer BBBP scheme Jyoti Salathia, Health officer JMC Dr Anita Salgotra, Entrepreneur Monika Manohar, Cricketer Roopali Salathia, Chess player Aarushi Kotwal, Taekwondo champion Mukta, Singer Vidhi Jaswal, Artists Vrinda Gujral and Aarushi A colorful programme based on the theme “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” was also presented by the artists of Song and Drama Division and others.
Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister went around various stalls exhibited by different departments to create awareness about the state and centrally sponsored schemes. On the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister along with other dignitaries and participants pledged to work for welfare and empowerment of the girl child.Among others, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, Regional Head Song and Drama Division Baljit Singh, Mission Director ICDS G. A. Sofi besides staff members, students of college and other senior officers of concerned departments were present on the occasion.