DRAWING ATTENTION: Sikhs stage a demonstration in Patiala urging the Prime Minister, who is on a two-day visit to Punjab, to take up the issue of the ban on turbans with France. — Photo: PTI

LUDHIANA: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday called for an extensive social campaign to combat female foeticide, a trend that has led to an alarmingly adverse sex ratio in Punjab.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a multi-speciality hospital built by the Apollo Group in collaboration with the Namdhari sect of the Sikh community, Dr. Singh expressed concern at the declining sex ratio in the country, especially in the northern region. While at the national level the child sex ratio for the age group 0-6 has declined from 945 to 927 girls per 1000 boys in the 1991-2001 decade, in Punjab the figure stood at a dismal 876.

As he quoted from the Gurbani, which holds women in high esteem, Dr. Singh warned that no country could develop by neglecting half its population. He said legislation was of little use unless there was social sanction against female foeticide. The medical community was required to exhibit a professional resolve to curb the practice.

The Prime Minister said that while Punjab had made impressive advances in the field of agriculture, the State should emphasise on the education and health sectors, for which he envisaged a special role for NGOs, NRIs, the private sector and philanthropist organisations to assist the State Government. He urged the Punjab Government to start a health insurance scheme as well as take advantage of the Union Government's National Rural Health Mission.

Later, addressing leaders of the rural and urban units of the Ludhiana district unit of the party near Sahnewal village, Dr. Singh called for strengthening of the hands of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and president of the party's State unit S.S. Dullo.

Accepting the demands of the Chief Minister, who wanted special attention from the Union Government for augmentation of infrastructure in Ludhiana, Dr. Singh asked the State Government to prepare a proper city development plan involving experts, the local administration and the people.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail