Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 25: To generate awareness among the masses on the issue of female foeticide the National Rural Health Mission is observing ‘Save the Girl Child Week’ from December 24 to 30.
Myriad of activities including seminars, symposiums and rallies are being conducted throughout the State on the instructions of Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma, who is also the chairman of State Supervisory Board for PC & PNDT Act and under the supervision of Dr Yash Pal Sharma, Mission Director, NRHM.
A mass awareness campaign has been launched at all the District and Block Headquarters.
State Health Society in collaboration with District Health Societies has been organizing mass awareness and sensitization programmes for all health providers, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) ultrasound clinic owners and masses about the importance of girl child and the menace of declining sex ratio and mal practices of sex determinations tests. The officials concerned are also conducting meetings with religious leaders to seek their support to generate awareness about declining sex ratio.
On day one of the awareness week, a sammelan was organised at Block Lar of District Ganderbal where Doctors, Sarpanchs, Panchs, ANMs, ASHAs and AWWs were sensitised about the importance of girl child and declining sex ratio.
Similarly, health workers organised rallies at Block Billawar and Block Hiranagar of Distrcit Kathua wherein banners were displayed on the topic.
Another such rally was oragnised at Block Verinag of District Anantnag, where female students participated in the rally.
An initiative was taken up at District Samba, where baby kits were distributed among new born female children.
Other awareness activities, which were conducted in all the district headquarters, included campaign, installation of banners and hoarding at all prominent places.
Dr Yashpal Sharma said that similar activities would be carried throughout the week to generate awareness among the masses.
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