Giving credit to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for bringing 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments to empower women, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh said that these historic amendments played an important role in bringing a sea-change in the mindset of the society towards girl child and empowering women to participate in decision making.
A provision of 33 percent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions was made under his guidance and as a result of this historical amendment, the women today were representing 56 percent of the total seats in the Panchayati Raj Institutions of the state," he said.
As a result of the earlier amendments in PRIs, a paradigm shift has taken place in the socio-political scenario of the country. The women reservation bill ensuring 33 percent of the seats in the assemblies and the Parliament has garnered enough support from all the parties paving the way for women empowerment, said the Chief Minister.
He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the two-day capacity-building workshop on Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act 1994 here today. He said that as per Sample Registration System (SRS) data 2018-20, the sex ratio in Himachal Pradesh was 950 per thousand males, the third best across all states in the country, which was quite appreciable.
He also appreciated the measures being adopted for the prevention of female feticide in the State.The Chief Minister announced to enhance the incentive amount to the family which adopts family planning after having one daughter to Rs 2 lakh under the Indira Gandhi Balika Suraksha Yojna from existing Rs 35,000.
Similarly, the incentive amount for family planning after two daughters will be increased from existing Rs. 25 thousand to Rs. 1 lakh.The Chief Minister also launched the 'online registration system' for registering Sonography machines under the PC & PNDT Act. The applicants can register from anywhere at their convenience. This will also help to track the real-time status of each application besides providing the facility of a secure and effective database.
· Online system for registration of Sonography machines in the State launched
· Announces to enhance incentives under Indira Gandhi Balika Suraksha Yojna
· Bharmour, Nankhadi and Jhanjeli blocks rewarded for achieving better child sex ratio
· "Today girls were participating enthusiastically in every field and bringing laurels to the Nation and the State as well. They are emerging leaders in every field and marching forward with confidence," said Sh. Sukhu.The state government is focusing on large scale reforms and modern technologies are being incorporated in the health sector to provide quality healthcare to the people of the state.
He added that block-level institutions are being strengthened as six specialist doctors each have been posted in the 36 assembly constituencies and soon specialist doctors will also be appointed in 32 left out institutions, remarked Sh. Sukhu.
The health institutions were equipped with modern and latest equipments and the government will not allow any paucity of funds to provide quality health services to its people. He said that health cards are being made and are linked with AADHAR to have access to the medical history of a person on a single click.
He honoured Bharmour block of Chamba district, Nankhadi block of Shimla district and Janjheli block of Mandi district for awaring and educating the society and assisted curbing the instances of female feticide. (The Sex ratio in Bharmour block is 1015, Nankhadi block 1087 and Janjheli block 996 respectively).
On this occasion, Health Minister Dr. (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil, while emphasizing the need to take strict action against those doing sex detection tests, said that the attitude of society towards protecting girl child is changing rapidly. He said that the legal provisions related to criminal investigation were being strictly followed in Himachal Pradesh.
He said that continuous awareness campaigns are also being run by the state government to achieve a better sex ratio in the state.MLA, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Secretary Health, M. Sudha Devi, Special Secretary Health, Neeraj Kumar and Chief Medical Officers and Block Medical Officers from various districts were also present on the occasion.