Smt. Lakshmikutty Amma, Padma Shri Awardee,
Shri Anurag Misra, Director, Song & Drama Division,
Shri G. Jayakumar, Assistant Director, Song & Drama Division,
Artistes from Himachal Pradesh and Kerala,
Sahodaree Sahodaranmaare,
Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram,
I am very happy to address you all in this special programme on Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao organized by Song & Drama Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
What adds to my joy is the august presence of
Smt. Lakshmikutty Amma, Padma Shri awardee, in this programme, which highlights the need to protect and empower the girl-child.
Let me at the outset, congratulate Smt. Lakshmikutty Amma, on being awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest Civilian Honour of our country.
The conferment of this honour points to the greatness of her contribution, which goes beyond the practice of traditional medicine. As a person who grew up in a tribal area, she has always relied on Nature and contributed to the preservation of our traditional knowledge. She can remember over 500 varieties of medicines and this has helped her in succeeding as a poison healer. Though she has received only very little formal education, she is a scholar in folk-lore. She has written poems and plays and is also a teacher in the Folklore Academy.
Today, as we honour this outstanding ‘Vana-Muthassi’ or grandmother of the forests, we are also honouring the courage and determination of a woman who could excel in her chosen field despite adverse situations. Her life conveys a message to the girls of our country on the importance of empowering oneself with knowledge, unmindful of the hurdless that one may have to face in life.
I also compliment the Song & Drama Division for organizing this programme under the Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat which seeks to celebrate the unity and diversity of our nation and to promote the spirit of national integration by showcasing our rich heritage. Today, we have cultural troupes from Himachal Pradesh and Kerala presenting their folk dance and music. As all of us know, Himachal Pradesh is the partner state of Kerala in the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative.
All over the world, Art has supported social movements by effectively carrying persuasive messages to the society, thereby forming opinions and encouraging people to take action. We have seen this working in campaigns for Health and Family Planning, cleanliness, Literacy etc. Today's cultural programme also has taken up a very relevant theme -- the need to ensure gender equality in society.
It is sad to see that even in this 21st century, seven decades after Independence, women are facing discrimination in the social, political, legal, economic, or familial spheres. Though women outnumber men in many societies, many sociologists consider women as a minority group, because they are not allowed to enjoy the same power, privileges, rights, and opportunities as men.
In fact, the discrimination against women begins in the families or even before the birth of a girl-child. The girl-child who is lucky gets an opportunity to be born and to live; the less fortunate are denied even the right to be born. Therefore, we need to sensitize society especially our women about the need to protect the rights of the girl-child. If our women are made aware of their rights, they will certainly stand up for the rights of their daughters.
The discrimination against women has also resulted in a regular decrease in the sex ratio of females in India. Thus, it has become crucial to save the girl child to maintain the male-female sex ratio as well as the balance of nature because men and women are meant to coexist in nature.
It was in this background that our Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi launched the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao flagship programme from Panipat in Haryana on 22nd January 2015. This scheme was started in selected 161 districts which were low on child sex ratio. And, seeing its success, the scheme has now been expanded to 640 districts all over the country.
As a State that has embraced progressive ideas, Kerala has a female-to-male ratio of 1.084, that is 1084 females per 1000 males, according to the last Census. However, this campaign is being held in our State too and I am happy that it has had quite a good success in Thrissur district, where the sex ratio has improved by six points.
The dream of a developed and modern India can be realized only if there is gender equality. As citizens, we are duty bound to work towards ensuring gender equality in society, because our constitution allows equal rights to men and women. Any discrimination, therefore, is undemocratic and unconstitutional.
I would also request the Song & Drama Division to devise a continuing campaign for the benefit of Trans-genders, who are a gender minority in India.
I greet all the artistes who are taking part in this programme and wish them success. I hope their performance would convince society about the need for gender justice.
Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
