PM Modi calls for gender equality on Women's Day, says female foeticide can't be allowed

Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for gender equality and equal opportunities for women as International Women's Day was celebrated across India on Wednesday.

The PM said protecting girl child is everyone's "social, national and human responsibility", and urged women sarpanchs to play an important role in preventing female foeticides.

The Prime Minister also said discriminatory mentality towards a girl child needs to change.

He was addressing a national convention of women sarpanchs on the occasion of International Woman's Day here.

"A lot needs to be done in the country towards 'beti bachao, beti padhao' (save and educate girl child). At least in the villages where the sarpanch is a woman, we should have no cases of female foeticide. If a sarpanch decides to create awareness, she can achieve that," he said.

"Against every 1,000 men, there are 800, 850, 900 women (in different states). If such an imbalance is created in society, how will it progress? It is society's responsibility, and women sarpanch can possibly be more successful in changing the social mindset," he said at Swachh Shakti 2017 programme held at Mahatma Mandir here.

"Women sarpanch can probably be more successful in protecting girl child and foetus. Women have proven their capability. They have turned divine whatever opportunity they have got. Therefore, 'beti bachao' is our social, national, human responsibility," he said.

PM Modi said the discriminatory mentality towards daughters should change, as it impedes society's progress.

"The discriminatory mentality has to be fought and changed with determination. Change is happening. Our daughters won Olympic gold medals and made us proud. In Board exams, only girls are seen on top of the list," he said.

He further exhorted around 6,000 women sarpanchs from across the country, who attended the convention, to ensure that girls in their respective villages are sent to school.

"I would request sarpanch women to ensure that girls also go to schools. This does not need budget. Government has made schools, and a village has to make no special allocation. One only has to see who all have not sent their girls to schools," he said. 

On International Women's Day, delighted to join #SwachhShakti & honour women Sarpanchs for their efforts towards Swacch Bharat. pic.twitter.com/g6Yt7l7eVe — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2017

(With PTI inputs)