Rodrigues calls for crusade against female foeticide

Chandigarh, Oct 23 (UNI) Advocating the need for action-oriented approach for promoting gender equality and improvement in child sex ratio, Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gen (Retd) SF Rodrigues today called for a crusade against the unethical practice of female foeticide.

Inaugurating a regional conference on health, population and social development in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab with a focus on child sex ratio here, General Rodrigues said, "There is a need for strengthening our monitoring system to identify the gaps in the implementation process in this social societal endeavour, followed by corrective measures." Expressing his anguish over the lackadaisical approach of the society towards female infanticide, General Rodrigues lamented that the efforts made so far had not turned into a mass movement and merely remained an academic exercise.

"The need of the hour is to activate our conscience and reorient our systems to reach out to every village and town to build public opinion. We also have to strengthen our network for empowerment of women and make them self-reliant with active community support," he said.

General Rodrigues appealed to the members of the Population Foundation of India (PFI) to participate in the programmes that have relevance in the social development, health and population and incorporate them into national programmes, for the benefit of the people of the country.

Vice Chairman of Population Foundation of India, Mr B G Deshmukh, while speaking on the occasion highlighted the goals of the national body on family planning, reproductive health and other development issues. He said that the foundation had organised various state level conferences as part of its advocacy programmes in different states and helping them in framing their population polices and programmes.

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