Haryana’s daughters have fought social evils to win: Prez
KURUKSHETRA: On his first visit to Haryana since taking charge, President Ram Nath Kovind, on Saturday, hailed the state’s women for bringing recognition to the state as well as the country.
“Haryana’s girls have challenged social evils and obligations and brought laurels to the state and the country,” said Kovind, addressing a gathering at the inauguration of an International Seminar on Bhagavad Gita (Gita Mahotsav) at Kurukshetra University.
Naming several women from Haryana, including the newlycrowned Miss World Manushi Chhillar, Union foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, astronaut late Kalpana Chawla, mountaineer Santosh Yadav, wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Phogat sisters and actress Parineeti Chopra, he said these women had challenged a mindset.
“We cannot even imagine, how these girls faced their families and society when they disclosed their dreams to them and fought with the enemy inside their minds,” the President said.
“This is my first visit to Haryana after becoming the President, but in the state, women had been placed under several restrictions. They were even told to hide their faces under a veil. These daughters have defied the mindset and proved themselves,” Kovind added.
“These women belong to the land of the Bhagavad Gita and the holy book gave them cour- age to fight and win. Now, everybody knows about daughters of Haryana,” the President went on to add.
Kovind also lauded the Haryana government for the imple- mentation of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ initiative and improving the sex ratio from 830 in 2011 to 937 by 2015.
The President also praised the teachings of the Gita and said the holy book had an answer to every question that man faced in life. He added that Mahatama Gandhi had also praised the teachings of Gita.
The President also inaugurated the Gita Jayanti Mahotav at Brahm Sarovar in the district.
He expressed his concern over the demerits of the digital age, saying that problems like suicides attributed to a game like Blue Whale Challenge were its side-effects.
He also paid obeisance to the Bhagavad Gita by offering flow- ers and laid the foundation stone of an international research centre on the holy book.
Speaking on the occasion, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, “The government is taking inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita. Government policies are being designed in such a way that there is transparent and corruption-free governance.” He added that the state was focusing on e-governance and 183 services were being provided to residents of rural areas through Atal Seva Kendras.
“Though we are working to eliminate corruption from governance, but it is a difficult job. For this, only teachings of Gita will help,” he added.