HP,CM announces reward to check female foeticide

Shimla, Apr 9 (UNI) The Annual Budget for the current financial year 2006-07 has been dedicated to the upliftment and empowerment of women as a large number of new initiatives have been taken in this direction and a reward of Rs 20,000 announced for anyone informing about female foeticide.

This was informed by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, while addressing a public meeting at Kandaghat in Solan district, after he dedicated the Baag Banjani lift water supply scheme at Chail constructed at a cost of Rs 40.56 lakh.

He that his government had taken a decision to balance the declining female sex ratio in the State and incentives had been announced for the parents of girls who would be given an award of Rs 25,000 for the first girl and in case there were two girls, the family would get an additional Rs 20,000 for the second girl child.

Mr Singh said that the State was concerned about the foeticide of girls. He announced a reward of Rs 20,000 to anyone giving information about foeticide anywhere in the State.

Mr Singh said that his Government was vigilant of conducting sex determination tests in various clinics which had been declared illegal by the State Government.

He said that roads were instrumental in delivering the benefit of development to the people of the area. He said that the State had attained cent per cent electrification target way-back in 1987-88 and emerged one of the very few States which had all its villages electrified.

The Chief Minister said that the State had succeeded in attracting an industrial investment of over Rs 17000 crore which was the result of the industrial friendly environment, good law and order situation and stable Government in the State. He said that the 21,000 MW identified Hydel potential would be exploited on priority.

He said that projects upto 5 MW would be allotted to the Himachal Pradesh entrepreneurs while they would also be given preferences in execution of higher capacity Hydel projects.

Mr Singh Singh said that ITI had been proposed to be opened in every assembly segment of the State in a phased manner. He said that education was being linked with employment oriented courses so that the youth were encourged to opt for employment and self employment courses. The Chief Minister said that his Government has always preferred to open higher educational institutions in the rural area so that the poor people could get their wards educated nearer to their home conveniently.

UNI XC SS RK2155