To mark the International Women’s Day district Administration Kathua organised a mega awareness programme at mini sports stadium, Hiranagar today.MLA Hiranagar Kuldeep Raj, Deputy Commissioner Kathua Ramesh Kumar and SSP Kathua Neeva Jain were present on the occasion.Women folks from all walks of life besides ASHA and Anganwadi Wokers, health workers, school and college students turned out in large number to participate in the event.Deputy Commissioner Kathua Ramesh Kumar in his address informed that district administration has devised out detail plan of activities under which a calendar of activities are rolled out to cover every part of the district. He said celebration of Ladli Diwas on 19th of every month is dovetailed with Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign to improve the gender sex ratio in the district.He said district administration has initiated PAHAL: ek kadam naari samman ki aur, a dedicated mission mode programme to improve the child sex ratio by sensitisizing the general public . He sought public cooperation in strengthening such initiatives and bringing about a positive social change to provide adequate opportunities to girls .
Deputy Commissioner Kathua also appealed people to keep a vigil on the practice of sex determination and report any such incident to curb the biased mindset against girl child. He said the provision of punishment and penalty is incorporated in PC& PNDT act and it’s the duty of every individual to ensure its implementation .DC also disclosed that Women Health Helpline Number 18001807103 is also launched under which any female can avail medical help from Gynaecologist on every Saturday from 10Amto 12Am and FMPHW on other week days through phone call.SSP Kathua Neeva Jain while addressing the gathering said that district police will provide all assistance to sensitize the people about the ill effects of declining female sex ratio and its social consequences.
Resource persons from Social Welfare and ICDS departments apprised about the benefits under the flagship programmes ‘Laadli Beti’ and ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’.An impressive skit on the consequences of adverse sex ratio besides skits on dowry, female feoticide, sex determination and domestic violence were remained attractions of the event. A scintillating song performance on ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ theme by the artists of District Information Centre Kathua was highly appreciated by the audience.Cash prize was also conferred upon the anganwadi workers and ASHA worker along with mother of fully immunized girl child. Outstanding female performers in the field of sports of sub division Hiranagar were also felicitated during the event. AC (UT) Rahul Yadav, PO ICDS Rajinder Singh, SDM Hiranagar Sohan Lal, Principal GDC Hirangar, District officers, Panchs, Sarpanchs, team of medicos from Sub-Division Hiranagar and local in large number witnessed the event.