Miss Universe, Sanjana Jon extend support to stop female foeticide in India

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): Ximena Navarrete, the reigning Miss Universe, and Sanjana Jon, an international fashion designer, have urged people to stop female foeticide through the 'Miss Universe-Sanjana Jon Tour'.

The ten-day tour, which started on January 27, focuses on raising awareness on the issue with visits to hospitals, interaction with school children and awareness walks.

Addressing the media in the national capital, Navarrete said that even though HIV patients remain to be the main cause that she is supporting, yet her Indian tour is more focused on saving the girl child.

"So, I am involved because of my title and because I really want a cause close to me. I have been learning a lot and now I am a part of it," Navarrete said.

Meanwhile, Sanjana hopes that the tour would spread awareness about the issue throughout the country.

"On one hand Indians worship Goddess Shakti, yet such incidents of female foeticide are on the up in the country, both in rural and urban areas. Even in metros this is a big problem. Education is not the only reason behind female foeticide. In metros, where there is a lot of education, even then it is a problem,"

"It is necessary to propagate this cause to save girl child in rural areas as well as metros as girl child should not be considered a bane, but a boon. That is why we are trying to create the concept of celebrating the girl child. Every girl born is a cause of celebration. That is what we want all of you to support and create as well," she added.

Female foeticide remains to be a key issue of concern and the main reason for the skewed sex ratio in the country.

According to official data, the current sex ratio of Haryana is approximately 861 girls per 1,000 boys, while Kerala has the highest sex ratio in the country with 1058 girls per 1,000 boys. (ANI)