Tamil Nadu - Dharmapuri   

Awareness rally on female infanticide taken out

Staff Reporter

Bring up girl child without discrimination, Collector tells parents

SAY NO: Collector M.Chandrasekaran participating in a rally against female infanticide in Dharmapuri on Tuesday. - Photo: N. Bashkaran

Dharmapuri: More than 500 students in association with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), self-help groups (SHGs) and Valarkalvi coordinators took out a rally here on Tuesday to create awareness among the public about female infanticide.

`A scourge'

Collector M. Chandrasekaran flagged off the rally at the Collectorate. He said as per an ancient lore King Adhiyaman of Dharmapuri had offered an Amla fruit that promised immortality to poet Avvaiyar as a mark of respect to women. But the practice of female infanticide had become a scourge on this district.

Public cooperation

The social evil could be eradicated only with the cooperation of the public. The Government had come with various welfare measures including the Girl Child Protection Scheme. Besides, families having a girl child were also provided with various benefits.

Parents should bring up the girl child without any discrimination. Determination of the sex of the foetus was a punishable offence.

The district administration would take stringent action against offenders under the Preconception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prevention of Sex Selection) Act, Mr. Chandrasekaran warned.

The SHGs in association with Valarkalvi coordinators and NGOs would conduct awareness programmes on female infanticide in all villages in Dharmapuri district shortly.

The Collector asked the public to extend support for eradication of female infanticide. Project Officer, Mahalir Thittam, and Deputy Director of Health Services, Iyyanar were present.

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