Lauding the indomitable spirit of skill, courage, resilience and dedication inherited by the Punjabi girls, the Union Human Resource Development Minister Mrs. Smriti Irani today called upon them to play a proactive role in women empowerment at the national level.Addressing the gathering here during her visit to the Dashmesh College for girls, the Union Minister said that the Union government was organizing National Arts and Craft festival in the month of December with ‘Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao’ as its theme. She said that the students from the state must participate in this national level festival to make their presence felt in the country by showcasing the rich cultural heritage of their state. Mrs. Irani said that besides cementing the bond of unity amongst the students of various states this festival would be also instrumental in perpetuating the cultural legacy of the country amongst the students.
Lauding the Union Food Processing Minister Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal for spearheading the campaign ‘Nanhi Chaan’ against female foeticide and protection of trees, Mrs. Irani, while terming it as a noble initiative, said that it was the need of the hour to eliminate these social maladies. She said that keeping this in mind the Union government has also decided to hold the national arts and craft festival on the theme of ‘Beti bachao, beti padhao’. She said that it was must for ensuring women empowerment in the country.
Emphasizing on the need for imparting quality education to the girls, the Union Minister said that educated girls could prove to be important pillars of a democratic country like India thereby fairly contributing in its economic, social and political development. Laying thrust on the all-round development of the girls by equipping them with quality education, she said that given an opportunity the girls could do any stupendous task and easily achieve their target due to which the need of hour was to provide them more and more opportunities to showcase their ability. Mrs. Irani also lauded the Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, who was present on the occasion, for establishing this college of high repute and equipping it with world class facilities.Earlier the Chief Minister and Union Food Processing Minister Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal welcomed Mrs. Irani in the college campus.Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Inspector General of Police Mr. BK Bawa, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Jaskiran Singh, Circle President Mr. Avtar Singh Vanwalla and Member Women Commission Mrs. Veerpal Kaur Tarmala,