PANJIM: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar Wednesday admitted that in certain parts of the State, families still do not rejoice at the arrival of a girl child, even as data shows that the male-female birth ratio in Goa is above the national average.
Speaking at a gathering during the launch of central scheme ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao,’ he insisted that a change in society would actually mean complete development of the State.
“Once a girl starts getting the same respect as the boy and both genders are treated as equals, it would mean the real development of the society. Merely shifting from villages to urban cities, using tap water instead of well water, travelling on hot mixed roads or moving from ferry service to the use of Mandovi bridge with the third one under construction, they all contribute to just a part of the overall development,” he said, to applause from the women who attended the launch.
The chief minister urged society to change its attitude towards the girl child as there are still instances of certain families shying away from announcing birth of a girl. “I still see, especially in villages, that a girl’s birth is not celebrated. But if it is a baby boy, the family proudly announces it to everyone,” he said, urging people to break this trend.
Citing several instances of women’s achievements, he added that girl students have often topped the SSC and HSSC examinations while a major highlight has been 70-75 per cent girls enrolled for MBBS at Goa Medical College.
Minister for Women and Child Development Dilip Parulekar echoed similar opinions claiming the government is geared to ensure welfare of females through various schemes. Chief Secretary R K Srivastava, WCD Director Deepali Naik, North Goa Collector Nila Mohanan and Panjim Mayor Shubham Chodankar were present.
