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Girls should not be treated as a curse but as a boon: Pratibha

— Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

President Pratibha Patil releases a tuberculosis seal at a function in New Delhi on Tuesday. Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is at right.

NEW DELHI: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Tuesday described the declining girl child ratio in the country as a “matter of shame,” and said girls should be treated not as a “curse” but as a “boon.”

Launching a “Save the Girl Child” campaign of the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, Ms. Patil said it was a matter of shame that the disturbed sex ratio was seen not only in the progressive States, but also in the progressive society.

The President, who was the first signatory of the campaign, said it was a matter of concern that the phenomenon was seen among those educated and having a status in society.

This disturbed sex ratio was creating a big problem. This could develop into a crime, which would not be good for the stability and security of society, she said.

Misuse of technology to determine the sex of the foetus and easy access to it had contributed to the rapid decline in the child sex ratio. This could adversely impact the delicate balance of nature and destroy the moral and social fabric.

The President said the launch of the campaign would have a long reaching impact on the minds of people.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said he was not only “concerned” at but also felt “ashamed” of at the current trend of declining girl child ratio in the country.

“We have to reverse the trend. For this we have launched many campaigns. Parliamentarians were allotted Rs. 5 lakh each to create awareness of the subject.”

The President also launched a tuberculosis seal to create awareness and raise funds to fight the disease.

The attractively designed seal costs Rs. 2. It will be available at all State TB associations, hospitals, primary health centres and DOTS clinics. It was designed by the Tuberculosis Association of India. Dr. Ramadoss briefed the President on the country’s success in checking the spread of TB and the effectiveness of the programme that was able to save six million lives since its inception.

“Since the launch of the programme in 1998, we have been able to bring down the death rate and seen an increase in the detection rate. The WHO has awarded the programme as the largest public health campaign in the world,” he said.

As part of the celebrations of the 60th year of Independence, Bhagat Singh’s birth centenary and the anniversary of the first war of Independence, the President also released a commemorative gold medallion at a separate function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The medallion is a tribute to the freedom fighters and salutes the undying spirit and emotions of Indians.

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