NEW DELHI: Girls and women are an integral pillar of society and no nation can hope to progress and aspire for a future of prosperity, joy and fulfillment by discriminating against them, observed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while inaugurating a fortnight-long celebration programme of girl child here on Thursday.
The programme will be observed across the city's various districts between January 18 and 31 to commemorate National Girl Child Day – celebrated each year on January 24.
The campaign will be spearheaded by Alliance Defending Freedom India (ADF India), an NGO, in association with the Pre-Conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (PC and PNDT) Cell of the Delhi government's Directorate of Family Welfare.
Speaking at the inauguration, Kejriwal gave a call to protect the diminishing girl child population of Delhi.
"Only men and women working together, shoulder to shoulder, can lead India into a future where each person is able to reach their highest potential. Yet, in spite of this, today we are killing our unborn girls in their mother's womb," the Chief Minister stated.
"The law restricts sex determination during the pregnancy of a woman and the government of Delhi is committed to protect the life of the unborn girl child in the state.
"We reiterate our commitment to ensure strict implementation of the PC & PNDT Act, by ensuring regular inspections and decoy operations to catch violators and also warn the unscrupulous doctors and clinics," he said.
The CM also urged the people of Delhi to stand up for the rights of the unborn girl child and provide information regarding those who commit such illegal acts.
He added that Delhi's sex ratio at birth has increased from 886 females per 1,000 males in 2012 to 902 per 1,000 males in 2016.
On the occasion, Kejriwal also planted a jasmine shrub, which blooms at night, to send out the message that women should be free to flourish not only in daytime but even in the darkness of the night.
The Health and Family Welfare department of Delhi government has conducted successful decoy operations, in coordination with the neighboring states, to curb the illegal practice of sex selection and sex selective abortion.