Panipat: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Saturday expressed her concern over the decline in sex ratio in the country, which she said was at the lowest level after Independence.
However, she lauded the leadership of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the state government’s initiatives for women empowerment, which had resulted in improvement of sex ratio in Haryana.
Ms Patil was addressing an international symposium on women and child empowerment at Hali Park here. The symposium was organised to mark the 175th birth anniversary of noted poet and social reformer Maulana Khwaja Altaf Hussain ‘Hali Panipati’.
Ms Patil said she was happy to learn about various schemes and programmes implemented by the Haryana government for empowerment of women in the fields of education, health and social welfare.
”The Chief Minister deserves appreciation for the same,” she added.
She expressed satisfaction that sex ratio had improved in the state in the last few years. According to the census figures of 2011, the sex ratio had shown considerable improvement and it was the result of schemes being run by the Haryana government to keep a check on female foeticide, Ms Patil added.
Describing female foeticide as a heinous crime, president said every person should come forward to eradicate this social evil and ensure equal status for women in all spheres of life.
She urged the social workers and NGOs to work for the empowerment of women to ensure overall development of the society.
Whenever the need of reforms in any system arose, the perspective of the Indian society always remained progressive and also showed courage and intellect, said Ms Patil.
She said there was a need to generate awareness in the society. ”For this purpose, we must have to bring about a change in the perception of people of both urban and rural areas,” she added.
Ms Patil said she had taken an initiative under which brave girls who had set an example against social evils, were invited to the President House. She urged the people to encourage such girls.
Terming literacy, better health services, education, nutritious food for mother and infant and self employment as the prime sources of women empowerment, she said significant efforts had been made in this direction during the last two decades.
The Centre had constituted Women Empowerment Mission which would prove more beneficial in achieving this objective. Various women and self help groups were successfully working in the country.
She also praised the Hali Panipati Trust for its various activities being carried out in the field of women empowerment.
The President said the social development of any nation could be assessed by the condition in which the women were living.
While emphasising the importance of higher education and training in skill development for women, she said this would infuse in them more confidence and self esteem.
Ms Patil also highlighted the contribution made by Maulana Hali for girl education and women empowerment.
Addressing the symposium, Mr Hooda also praised the efforts made by Maulana Hali in empowering the women and said the noted poet raised his voice when the condition of women deteriorated.
The Chief Minister said women had always been accorded a high place in the Indian culture since ancient times and whenever they got a chance, they showed indomitable courage and intelligence. (UNI)