FATEHGARH SAHIB: On the occasion of first day of three-day annual shaheedi jor Mela, held in the sacred memory of Guru Gobind Singh's two younger sons Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, Nanhi Chhaan, the initiative started at the golden temple to give away sampling as 'Buta Parshad' to newly wedded, expecting women and parents of newly born daughter, is launched for three days here at Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib.
A large number of women participated in the campaign as devotees thronged the main Gurdwara from various parts of the state and outside.
Speaking on the occasion Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal and founder patron of `Nanhi Chhaan' Badal calls for timely initiatives against female feticide and to plant trees to check environmental pollution and global warming. She stated that where on one hand declining tree cover a great environmental concern is; on other hand female feticide is grown into a major social curse. She said that there is great need of putting effective steps to tackle with both of these issues.
Harsimrat Kaur said that there would be serious demographic imbalances in Punjab's society in the future and declining tree cover is also a cause of great environmental concern as it would make our development ecologically unsustainable. She said female foeticide had badly hit the social structure and the sex ratio had got upset. This would create serious problems in days to come if corrective measures were not taken immediately. She said it was a sin to indulge in feticide as the Sikh Gurus were strictly against such actions. She said that now there is an urgent need to mainstream both these issues and to take them to the common man through well-directed initiatives. Asserting that dowry is the root cause of female feticide, Badal appeals that society should get rid of this evil.
Presiding over the function S.Sukhbir Singh said that this novel campaign would go a long way in highlighting the twin issues of protecting the girl child and environment. Sukhbir Singh Badal said it was sad that Punjab led in female foeticide cases that had created an alarming situation. He called for launching a crusade against foeticide and dowry and also stressed the importance of each personp lanting a tree. He said that a message leaves better impact if it is given from religious places.
Later during press conference Badal told that SAD-BJP government is planning to start a women college in every district of state to promote women education. He said that he will request Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal that present infrastructure will be used in such an efficient way that government colleges and schools will be used for women education in the morning and for males at evening.
Replying to a query Badal said that he had such proposal to attract those parents for educating their daughters who hesitates to send their daughter in co-educated institutes. He gives emphasis to provide equal opportunities to women. He said that from coming year government is going to establish a Rs. 400 Crore revolving educational fund for upgrading schools and colleges of the state.
The campaign 'Nanhi Chhaan' involves giving saplings of trees to women devotees coming to the holiest Sikh shrines to plant them in their homes with a pledge to help save the girl child and also the environment. The campaign is a joint venture between the state government, the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and corporate house Ranbaxy group.
Among others who addressed the huge gathering of women in special are Jathedar Giani Tarlochan Singh and Deputy Speaker Lok Sabha S.Charanjit Singh Atwal.
Punjab Newsline Network