CHANDIGARH: Haryana Government has decided to provide a sum of Rs. 5 lakh to that village, which who would stand first at the state level in improving sex ratio and similarly the cash awards would also be given to those districts which would improve sex ratio.

This was disclosed by the Haryana Chief Minister, . Bhupinder  Singh Hooda while addressing a legal literacy seminar on eradication of female foeticide and drug de-addiction orgranised by Haryana State Legal Services Authority in collaboration with  Health Department Haryana at Fatehabad today. The Chief Minister informed that a sum of Rs. 5 lakh would be given to the district for getting first position in improving sex ratio while Rs. 3 lakh for getting second position and Rs. 2 lakh for third position.

Hooda lauded the efforts of the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, .Justice Vijender Jain for taking an initiative by organising the seminar for eradicating the  evils of female foeticide and drug de-addiction. He assured  the Chief Justice that the State Government would provide all possible help in this movement. He stressed the need for collective efforts to eradicate these social  evils which were also a blot on the society. He said that districts Kurkshetra and Ambala were included in the 34 districts of the country having low sex ratio. He said that with the persistent efforts of the government the sex ratio in the state had improved considerably.
      
While referring to the main reasons behind the female foeticide,  the Chief Minister said that there were three main reasons, first the pregnant lady and her family, the ultrasound operator and third doctor. He advocated the severe punishment to such persons.  He said that Haryana Government had taken a number of steps for empowerment of women in the state. Two percent remission in registry fee had been given to the women transferring property on their own name beside 10 paisa per unit concession was also been extended to the women having power connection in their own name. As many as 476 delivery huts had been setup in the state beside the government was giving the financial assistance to the poor pregnant women of the society.

On this occasion, Chief Minister honored the village panchayat Jhalnia by giving a sum of Rs. One lakh for improving sex ratio in the village as the sex ratio of the village stood 1227 female as against 1000 male. He also announced to give a sum of Rs. 21000 each to Master Sonu Kumar of Government Senior Secondary School of Jandli Kalan and a student of second class Poonam of Lek Raj Memorial Tagore Vidya Mandir of Fatehabad who sung a song and performed skit respectively.

While speaking in the seminar, the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Mr. Justice Vijender Jain called upon the people especially youth to take a solemn pledge to eradicate female foeticide  and de-addiction from the society and launch a crusade and mass movement against these social evils.
Justice Jain said although Haryana State had stood second in  the country in per capita income even though the sex ratio imbalance was a matter of serious concern for the society as it was against our culture. He said that Haryana is land of 'Hari' where Lord Krishana delivered the celestial message of Karam Yoga. He said that the people of Haryana worshiped Maa Durga, Luxmi and Saraswati in spite of this sex ratio was declining in the state.

Justice Jain urged the people to change their mindset so that success could be achieved in checking female foeticide effectively. He was of the view that unless natural rights could be defined about the birth of a girl child society could not succeed in its mission. He said that Haryana Government under the leadership of Chief Minister,.Bhupinder Singh Hooda had formulated a number of welfare schemes for the empowerment of women in the state.
      
While referring to the reasons behind the female foeticide,  Chief Justice said that the first reason was the dowry system prevailing in the society and second main reason was the safety of a girl which
forced the parents to take this type of wrong decision. He expressed hope that Fatehabad district would stood first in sex ratio in the country as the sex ratio of village Jhalnia of this district stood 1227 female per thousand male.      

The Chief Justice and Chief Minister also released a souvenir prepared by Haryana State Legal Services Authority and administered the oath to the people for taking a solemn pledge to check the female foeticide and urged them that there would be no discrimination among the boy and girl besides they would also co-operate with the government and would social boycott of those people who would be involved in this heinous crime.       

Executive Chairman of Haryana Legal Services Authority and Judge  of Punjab and Haryana High Court Mr. Adarsh Kumar Goyal, Administrative Judge of Fatehabad District and a Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court  A.N.Jindal,  District and Session Judge Fatehabad Lakshman Sharma and Deputy Commissioner O.P.Sheoran also spoke on the occasion.
      
Those who were present included the Judges of Punjab and Haryana  High court, S.D.Anand , .L.N.Mittal, Nawab Singh, Harbans Lal, and Rakesh Kumar Garg, Member of Parliament Sirsa, Atma Singh Gill, Parliament Secretaries  Dura Ram and Paramvir Singh, MLA Bhattu-Kalan Kulbir Baniwal, Member Sectary Haryana State legal Services Authority Arun Kumar Tyagi,  Commissioner Hisar Divison P.C.Bidhan and S.P. Saurav Singh.
      
Earlier, the Chief Justice and Chief Minister laid the  foundation stone of a residential colony for Judicial Officer and officials to be constructed at a cost of 3.90 crore. 

Later  the Chief Justice and Chief Minister inaugurated the  Litigant Hall at Ratia town and the Chief Minister also announced a grant of Rs. 5 lakh for purchase of computer and books of Bar library. They also laid the foundation stone of new court complex at  Ratia to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.74 crore. They also inaugurated Lok-Adalat orgainsed by the Haryana State Legal Service Authority with a view to give prompt justice to the needy persons of the society.