Awareness walk on female foeticide to reach city tomorrow

PUNE: Stringent laws against female foeticide can be made but laws that lack public support do not yield results. Therefore, public awareness and education are the keys to rein in sex determination and female foeticide, said state public works minister Chhagan Bhujbal.
He was speaking at the launch of the padayatra campaign 'Jagar Ha Janivancha, Tumchya Maza Lekincha', initiated by MP Supriya Sule, which kicked off in Naigaon in Satara district on August 25.The four-day campaign will conclude at the Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch in the city on August 28.
"Killing a girl child in the womb will only result in gender crisis. There is a need to create awareness about this imminent danger," Bhujbal said.
State home minister R R Patil stressed that all components of society should join hands in the fight against female foeticide.
About 1,000 girls, aged between 18 and 24, and about 500 boys from all over the state have participated in the awareness march. As many as 15 physically-challenged girls and 50 children of suicide-affected families of farmers have also joined the walk.
Naigaon is the birthplace of Savitribai Phule, pioneer of women's education in the state.
NCP president Sharad Pawar will attend the concluding function of the padayatra in the city, where women with remarkable contributions to society will be feted.
"It's a non-political event, but we have invited all parties to participate and support the cause. It mainly aims at sensitising society, government, administration and particularly the youth, who are the future parents, on the issue. We are aiming at gender equality," said Sule.
The old customs and beliefs are mainly responsible for the negative attitude towards girls and therefore the campaign is aimed at awareness, she added.
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On the way
On Friday around 6.30 pm, the march arrived at Shivrai marriage hall in Khopi near Khed-Shivapur. The march partially affected the traffic flow on Pune-Satara highway for some time.
eom/umesh