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PM calls for mass movement to remove gender imbalance
Jhunjhunu (Rajasthan), March 8 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for a mass movement to protect the girl child and to promote healthy children in the country, even as he expanded the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP)” campaign to cover all districts of the country and launched a new programme, National Nutrition Mission (NNM).
Highlighting the details of the initiative, and talking about the mindset and misconceptions leading to a low sex ratio and malnourished children, Modi said: “We need to come out of this problem. Yet, I say this cannot happen with the government budget alone. This will happen when there’s a mass movement. People are to be educated, made to understand.”
The Prime Minister said the country in the 21st century is even worse than the 18th century when the girl was at least allowed to take birth before being drowned in a milk tub. “Today, the daughter is killed in the womb without either the mother or the daughter seeing each other’s face,” he said, adding the country needs to come out of this mindset.
“Those who think son will help in old age… Situation is different. I have seen families where old father-mother spend their old days in orphanages despite having four sons living in luxury. And, I have also seen such families where single daughter takes up job without marrying, so that parents do not face difficulties in old age,” he said to a gathering with a large number of women.
Reminding about the more than 100-year-old International Women’s Day being celebrated on March 8, the PM said the gender imbalance in the country has happened over the last five-six generations and if the citizens decide to have parity in the birth of sons and daughters, the much-required gender balance can be achieved in two-three generations.
Modi said a major role can be played by the mothers-in-law. “If a mother-in-law says daughter is required in the family, nobody in the family will have the guts to do injustice with the daughters. For this we need to generate a mass movement.”
Talking about improvement in sex ratio at birth in Haryana — where it was alarming two years ago — on account of BBBP, he said the government has now expanded the programme to protect and educate the girl child from 161 districts to 640 districts all over the country.
Modi also distributed certificates to the best performing districts in the BBBP programme as he interacted with some of the beneficiary mothers and girl children.
The Prime Minister launched another ambitious programme — National Nutrition Mission (NNM) — nationwide from Jhunjhunu. The mission strives to reduce under-nutrition and low birth weight, bring down anaemia among young children, women and adolescent girls and reduce the prevalence of stunting among children.
“Ignorance is the major reason for weak physical growth of our sons and daughters, and underweight births. Enough food is not adequate if the water is bad … we cannot change malnutrition. Child marriage is another major reason for malnourished children,” he said, adding that timely medicine and breastfeeding at birth is a must, but it does not always happen.
“An estimate suggests 30 to 40 per cent deaths of children happen due to eating without washing hands. Even the mother needs to wash her hands before feeding the child. Who will teach them? It’s all our responsibility,” he added.
“We have to make our country strong. If our children are strong, then our country would be strong,” he said calling out for a movement that leads to happy and healthy children in the country by 2022, when India celebrates the 75th anniversary of its independence.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
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