Smt. C.H. Jameela, Municipal Chairperson, Malappuram,
Shri Anurag Misra, Director, Song & Drama Division,
Shri Amit Meeeta, District Collector, Malappuram,
Smt. Meenakshi Gurukkal, Padma Shri Awardee,
Ms. Yasmin Arimbra, Agro Entrepreneur,
Shri D. Murali Mohan, Additional Director General, Song & Drama Division,
Shri S. Subramanian, Director, Song & Drama Division,
Dr. P.A. Mary Anitha, Centre for Empowerment and Enrichment,
Sahodaree Sahodaranmaare,
Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram
I am very happy to address you all in this special programme with special emphasis on Beti Bachao, Beti Padao organized by the Bureau of Outreach and Communicationearlier known as Song & Drama Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
What adds to my joy is that this programme also includes women’s empowerment and the objectives of the National Nutrition Mission.
The august presence of Padma Shri awardee
Smt. Meenakshi Gurukkal and Ms. Yasmin Arimbra, the young agro entrepreneur inspires us with a message of women empowerment. Smt. Meenakshi Gurukkal has been teaching Kalari Payattu for more than half a century, instilling courage and confidence in the minds of hundreds of disciples including girls. Ms. Yasmin has empowered hundreds of women by making them shareholders in the Thennala brand of Rice she has popularized.
Most importantly, this programme has special performancesby the children of the Centre for Empowerment and Enrichment. They have been proving on many stages that disability is just an obstacle that can be overcome through human endeavour.
I also compliment the Song & Drama Division for organizing this programme under the Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat which seeks 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 Padao initiative.
I am particularly happy to see this performance being arranged in Malappuram district because the message of Beto Bachao, Beti Padao is very relevant here. I am informed that in these two districts, we see comparatively more girls getting married at a younger age.
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.
We offer don’t realize that 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 create awareness in society, especially among our women about the need to ensure the rights of the girl-child, so that they will 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 Padao flagship programme from Panipat in Haryana on 22nd January 2015.
As a State which 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 Malappuram district, where the sex ratio has improved by five points.
The dream of a developed and inclusive India can be realized only if there is gender equality and respect for the rights of people with disability. As citizens, we are duty bound to work towards ensuring gender equality and inclusive facilities in society, because our constitution allows equal rights to men, women and transgenders. Any discrimination, therefore, is undemocratic and unconstitutional.
Nation building becomes a reality only when we strive to strengthen our democracy by accepting gender equality as the most vital element in society. If you give equal rights and privileges to the girls in your home, I would say you have learned a social reality. If you are able to inspire one family in your locality to give their daughters the education they give to their sons, I would say, you have built one brick of the nation. When you empower a person with disability to succeed in life, you are strengthening your nation.
I would also request the Song and 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 especially the children from Centre for Empowerment and Enrichment, who are taking part in this programme and wish them success. I also request everyone to learn from the Chekkuty initiative a novel lesson in human empowerment.
Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
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