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Punjab Governor's call to end foeticide

By Our Staff Correspondent

JALANDHAR, JAN 27. The Punjab Governor, S.F. Rodrigues, has called for revolutionary changes in the social sector in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution that envisages universal justice. He has stressed the need for empowerment of women and special attention to children.

In his address at the State-level Republic Day function here on Wednesday, Gen. Rodrigues, while urging the people to rededicate themselves to nation-building and fulfilling the mission of "Resurgent and self-reliant India'', expressed concern over the deterioration in the social development index in the state. He said that the radical transformation of the society was a collective responsibility for which pro-active strategy be worked to mitigate the problems of women, children and senior citizens.

The increasing incidence of the unethical practice of female foeticide, the Governor said must be put to an end for maintaining harmony in the society. He said the NGOs and health education organisations must come forward in generating public awareness on this issue. He also sought cooperation of non-government voluntary organisations and philanthropists to undertake the mission of freeing society free from other social evils as well.

Calling for the launch of the second Green Revolution in the farm sector, where State Government and agriculture scientists need to bring about a co-ordinated effort, the Governor said that with increasing pressures of urbanisation, agricultural land holdings were diminishing leaving lesser area for cultivation. He stressed the need to focus on developing high yielding varieties to raise productivity levels and conserve water resources. He suggested that the cropping pattern in the State could change only through supply of quality inputs like seeds and fertilisers to farmers.

Gen. Rodrigues said while freedom was attained after supreme sacrifices by innumerable martyrs, thousands of personnel of the armed forces, police and para-military organisations laid down their lives for protecting the unity and integrity of the country.

The real tribute to these valiant patriots would be to realise their dream of making the Nation strong and vibrant with confident and committed people.

The function was organised at the aesthetically decorated Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, where the Governor inspected the parade and took the salute at an impressive march-past by contingents of Punjab Police, Punjab Armed Police (PAP), CRPF, NCC, (Senior and Junior Division), boy scouts and girl guides. Tableaux displaying progress and prosperity in different spheres of development put up by the Government and Non Government Agencies also formed part of the parade.

Later at an "At Home" in Raj Bhavan at Chandigarh, Gen. Rodrigues, hosted distinguished citizens of Punjab and Chandigarh.

The Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice B.K. Roy, the GOC-in-C of Western Command, Lt.-Gen. J.J. Singh, and senior officers of the Defence, Civil administration and Police, Vice-Chancellors of Panjab University and Punjab Agriculture University were present at the function.

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