Srinagar: With recent census indicating drastic anomaly in child sex ratio, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday termed as worrisome the female foeticide in Jammu and Kashmir and called for need to stop the trend.
Speaking at a function hosted by Madar-e-Meherban Education Institution at Gulab Bagh, the Chief Minister said the practice was strange in a society like Kashmir where girls and women have always received highest respect and love.
He called upon the civil society to play a role in reversing the alarming trend.
Jammu and Kashmir is only behind Haryana and Punjab in child sex ration in 0 to 6 years age group. The state was better off with 963 females in 1981 and it gradually dropped to 941 females in 2001, dipping further to 862 females in 2011.
The trend has raised questions regarding the official claims about crackdown on prenatal sex determination tests and female foeticide in the state.
Omar also paid rich tributes to Madar-e-Meherban ,Begum Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, on her 13th death anniversary.
Presently we all talk vehemently on skill development issues and special focus is on women empowerment in the Country, he said, adding, Begum Akbar Jahan was the founder of these important initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar said the Late Begum founded Miskeen Bagh Women Welfare and Skills Development Centre more than thirty years ago and launched various drives for empowerment of women and development of children, particularly those belonging to the weaker sections of the society.
Omar referred to the work she did for the development of children and downtrodden sections of the society.
Speaking at a function at Madar-e-Meherban Education Institution at Gulab Bagh after offering fateh and laying floral wreath at the grave of Begum Sher-i-Kashmir at Hazratbal, the Chief Minister said that besides the laudable political role, Madar-e-Meherban was known for her stupendous efforts to empower women and help holistic development of children particularly of weaker sections.
In fact Late Begum Sher-i-Kashmirs role as a great social worker gets often eclipsed under the political responsibility she had to render in absence of Late Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, which is in itself a historic memorabilia, he said.
Noted author and former Deputy Chairman Legislative Council, M. Y. Taing, presented a paper on the life and struggle of Begum Sher-i-Kashmir. He said the title of Madar-e-Meherban given to Begum Akbar Jahan by the common people was in recognition of her extraordinary social work.
Chairman of Madar-e-Meherban Educational Society, Prof. Suraya Mattoo, presented resume of the activities of the Institution and gave details of the academic objectives targeted by the Institution. She also informed about the infrastructure development under progress in the Institution.
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