Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday honoured women who have made remarkable contributions in various fields like education, culture, army, singing, art, medicine, social welfare, empowerment, sports, aviation and mountaineering etc at a state-level ‘Samman Samaroh’ on the occasion of International Women’s Day in Karnal.
In recognition of the improvement in sex ratio, the Chief Minister awarded the Deputy Commissioners of the districts of Fatehabad, Ambala, and Jind with cash awards of Rs. 5 lakhs, Rs. 3 lakhs, and Rs. 2 lakhs, respectively. Apart from these, for improving nutrition levels, the Deputy Commissioners of the districts of Faridabad, Narnaul, and Ambala received first, second, and third prize awards along with the cash reward of Rs. 2 lakh, Rs. 1 lakh, and Rs. 50,000 each.
Khattar honoured Manju Sharma with Sushma Swaraj Award, Ritu Lather and Monika Sharma with Indira Gandhi Mahila Shakti Award, Vandana with Kalpana Chawla Shaurya Puruskar and Chandraprabha Madan with Lifetime Achievers Award.
Addressing the gathering during the state-level function organized on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Khattar said that everyone should take a resolution to prevent violence against women and ensure giving them a safe and secure atmosphere.
While highlighting the role of women in everyone’s life, the Chief Minister said that they say that “Behind every successful man there is a woman” and my mother has been a large part of the success and the position where I have been able to reach today. Sharing his personal experience, Khattar said that when he had passed the 10th standard and desired to pursue further education, his father had denied him the same, it was his mother who gave him Rs. 300 to get admission to college. “I dedicate my success to my mother, if she would have not given me money to pursue my higher education then I might have not reached this position,” said Khattar.
The Chief Minister said that today there are 56,434 Self-Help Groups (SGHs) in Haryana and financial assistance of Rs 796 crore has been given to them. The State Government has tied up with Flipkart, so as to ensure that the products produced by SGHs can be sold digitally across the country and the globe. “This step would certainly increase their income, while their products will also get international recognition. For imparting training to Self-Help Groups, a training centre has been opened at Gharaunda at a cost of Rs. 3.5 crore. More such centres will also be opened in other parts of the state,” he said.
Khattar urged the members of the SHGs to link all such women who have a family income of less than Rs.1 lakh with their groups so that the economic condition of these women can be improved. He said that Haryana which was once known for female feticide is now celebrating the birth of every girl child.
"The State government, social organizations, Khap Panchayats, NGOs, Education, Women and Child Development and Health Departments have made tireless efforts to improve the gender ratio in Haryana. Besides this, the Police also ensured strict action against those involved in female feticide. It is only because of these dedicated efforts that today in Haryana there are 923 girls for every 1000 boys. While in the year 2014, the number was 871 girls for every 1000 boys," Khattar added.
