PM Modi begs countrymen to save girl child
"Our mental illness is responsible for this poor sex ratio. We give a lot of importance to boys. Many women also do this. But for how long will we look at girls as 'paraya dhan'? For every 1,000 boys born, 1,000 girls should also be born. I want to ask you if girls are not born, where will you get your daughters-in-law from?" Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday 'begged' before a gathering in Panipat in Haryana and urged the countrymen to save the girl child. "We are creating a terrible situation for our coming generations," the prime minister said.
"Our mental illness is responsible for this (poor sex ratio). We give a lot of importance to boys. Many women also do this. But for how long will we look at girls as 'paraya dhan'? For every 1,000 boys born, 1,000 girls should also be born. In Haryana's Mahendergarh district, the ratio is 1,000 boys for only 775 girls. I want to ask you if girls are not born, where will you get your daughters-in-law from?" Modi said.
The PM was in Panipat to launch the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao (Save a girl child, educate her) campaign during which he urged the country to end gender discrimination by "completely eradicating the practice of female foeticide".
Feudal mindset
"Inspite of living in the 21st century, our mindset is still in the 18th century when a birth of a girl child was not welcome. If we do not become aware and compassionate about this problem, we will be setting a dangerous precedent for future generations. The message has to go to every family, village and state in India," he said. Urging doctors to refrain from conducting sex determination tests, Modi said the aim of their profession was to save lives and not kill.
Modi said though this programme has been organised in Panipat, the message was relevant across the country. He said people want educated daughters-in-law, but are reluctant to educate their own daughters. "How long will we have such double standards?" he asked.
Modi quoted eminent Urdu scholar from Panipat Altaf Hussain Haali and said, "O sisters, mothers, daughters - you are the ornaments of the world, you are the life of nations, the dignity of civilisations." He also quoted from other ancient scriptures to highlight the importance of a girl child. Recalling astronaut Kalpana Chawla, who was from Haryana, as an example of how girls could excel and make a name for themselves, the PM said girls were today doing well in all fields.
Modi also thanked Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit, who participated in the programme, for coming despite her mother being seriously unwell. He said this demonstrated her commitment to the cause. Speaking on this occasion, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Sanjay Gandhi thanked the prime minister for taking the issue seriously.