District Development Commissioner (DDC) Bandipora, Sajjad Hussain, today flagged off a rally of students and Awangwari workers from Mini Secretariat organized to raise awareness regarding Bati Bachao Bati Padhao (BBBP) campaign in the district.The designated Nodal Officer for BBBP, Javid Ahmad Rather, among other concerned officers was present on the occasion.The rally traversed through various markets of Bandipora with placards in their hands inviting attention of the general public towards the protection and education of a girl child. The rallyists also raised slogans like 'Bati Bachao Bati Padhao and Bati Nahe Bachawo Gay Toe Bahoo Kahansay Lawo Gay’ on the occasion.Later, an oath ceremony for pledging to take forward the message of Bati Bachao Bati Padhao to every household and individual was held.On the occasion, painting competition on the theme of BBBP was also held by participants at different places.Whereas, in Ganderbal, a similar, organized by District Programme Officer ICDS Ganderbal, saw women marching from Mini Secretariat to Tawheed Chowk at Duderhama here.The participants in the rally included women from varied backgrounds, including Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, home-makers and school-going girls. Speaking on the occasion, the Project Officer ICDS said the main objective of the rally was to generate awareness among common masses regarding the importance of a girl child in the society.He said encouraging and educating the common people about the importance of 'Beti' in the society is must in order to correct the dismal low child sex ratio in the district.Earlier, a painting competition was also held under the theme Beti Bachao Beti Padhao in the premises of the DC Office Complex here, in which a large number of students from various educational institutions participated and highlighted the various aspects of save the girl child theme by means of their painting skills.