Peoples representatives must work to save girl child: PM

New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) Terming female foeticide most ''inhuman, uncivilised and reprehensible,'' Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today urged elected representatives to actively participate in the national campaign to save the girl child.

Addressing the National Meeting on 'Save the Girl Child' here, Dr Singh stressed the need for social awareness and strict enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostics Techniques Act. He urged all concerned to help put an end to this practice adopted by misuse of otherwise life saving modern technology.

Underlining societal discrimination against women begins at home, he said, ''It begins even before the girl child is born. The patriarchal mindset and preference for male children is compounded by unethical conduct on the part of some medical practitioners assisted by unscrupulous parents who illegally offer sex determination services.'' Dr Singh asked the Health Ministry to focus on orienting the million plus elected representatives of the panchayats and urban local bodies and use them as a medium for fighting this practice.

He told the Ministry of Women and Child Development that it should enlist the support of women panchayat leaders and women Self-Help Groups to strengthen the nutrition programme in our country.

Urging the participation of every citizen in empowering the girl child, the Prime Minister said action must begin at home, in our families and in our communities.

''I do not say this as the Prime Minister of India. I say this as the proud father of three daughters. I wish for every girl in our country what I wish for my own daughters,'' he added.

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