Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat, as part of his initiative to promote the value of the girl child, on Monday visited two panchayats in Mandi district where girls were born and congratulated their families.A statement said the governor visited Behna and Bharon panchayats, and honoured five girls of Bahna village and two of Malori village.The objective behind the initiative is to change the mindset of the people about the birth of a girl child and sensitise them about the importance of women in society, a government statement said.On the occasion, Devvrat said the district administration has taken important initiative to check female foeticide and launched the 'Meri Ladli' campaign after the success of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' programme to promote girl child.
The state has an overall child sex ratio of 909.The governor also announced Rs.2 lakh to the district administration for successful implementation of the 'Meri Ladli' programme.He said this programme should be started across the state.He also launched a cleanliness drive jointly organised by women groups and the gram panchayat of Behna.Devvrat urged the women to come forward and involve themselves in social awareness programmes, and also to contribute towards environment protection.Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, in his budget speech on March 8, announced that any person providing information about illegal female foeticide would be given a cash grant of Rs.1 lakh.He said 15 panchayats in the state having the best female birth rate in comparison to male birth rate would be given Rs.10 lakh additional development grant under the Panchayat Balika Gaurav Puruskar.