As a sequel to government’s initiatives of encouraging and empowering girls under Beti Bachao Beti Padao Abhiyan, Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh, who is also President All J&K Wrestling Association, today inaugurated women wrestling “Ab Hoga Dangal” at Subhash Stadium, here this afternoon.The District Administration Uhampur has organized this wrestling competition under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Abhiyan (BBBP) in which around 42 National and International Level Wrestlers from Delhi, UP, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir participated.Addressing the gathering, Choudhary Lal Singh said that it is the first ever historic event for the women wrestlers organized under BBBP, a flagship programme launched by the Central Government.The Minister 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 about the girl child. He 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, Choudhary Lal Singh said the BBBP scheme is being implemented in a mission mode so that the girl child gets benefitted from this programme.Praising the organizers for promoting such type of events which provide a perfect platform to the state wrestlers, Choudhary Lal Singh said that initiative will provide an opportunity to the budding players to showcase their talent. He said that participation of wrestlers from outside the state in such competitions will provide exposure to the local wrestlers.e emphasized the need for promoting such events and said that the event has become cementing force between people of different regions and provided encouragement to the local wrestlers. He said sports activities like dangals keep the youth away from bad habits like drug addiction.
The Minister highlighted various initiatives being taken up by the Government for providing all requisite facilities to the players and said that the Government is making concentrated efforts for developing sports infrastructure in the state with special emphasis on traditional sports in the state. He wished great success to the players and asked the youth to take up sports to lead a healthy life.Choudhary Lal Singh, while lauding the role of district administration, stressed that all the schemes related to females being implemented by the Central Government as well as state government should be widely publicized so that their benefits could reach to the real beneficiaries to the optimum.District Development Commissioner presented welcome address and threw light on the importance of the event.Later, the Minister distributed cash prizes and mementoes among the winning wrestlers.
Earlier, the Minister attended a function on National Girl Child Day held at Government Degree College for Women, Udhampur in collaboration with social organization ‘Jan Sangrash’ as chief guest.On the occasion, the students of the college presented colourful cultural items which were highly applauded by the audience.District Development Commissioner, Ravinder Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests Farooq Gillani, Managing Director SFC Suresh Gupta, Regional Wildlife Warden, Dr. V S Sinthil Kumar, Regional Director Social Forestry Roop Kour Avtar, Conservator Qamar-Ud-Din, SSP, Rayees Bhat, Additional Deputy Commissioner Krishan Lal, Nodal Officer, BBBP Udhampur Rachna Sharma and other senior officers of civil and police administration including large number of wrestling lovers were present on the occasion.