Union Textiles minister Smriti Irani on Thursday said a woman’s struggle begins in the womb as she had to brave prejudices even before she is born and this increases when she moves in society.
Irani gave a clarion call to end the evil practice of female foeticide and celebrate birth of girl child while participating in Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s (ABVP) ‘Mission Sahasi’ programme in which over 1350 girls demonstrated their self-defence techniques.
She said in a country like India where girls are worshipped as Devi, the girls feel insecure, which is the most unfortunate thing for all of us.
She exhorted the girls to face the challenges of life with courage and said the mission would be completed in true sense if the ABVP also impart training to girls on tackling legal issues too.
“ABVP should also aware them on registration of FIRs and procedure of fighting cases in courts, besides counseling the family members to support their girl child,” she said.
Irani said no matter what a girl wears or which family she belongs to, getting equal respect in society is her birthright.
Around 8000 school and college girls got registered in 208 campuses for self-defence training and the Union minister urged the girls to teach self-defence techniques to at least one friend so that the process goes on.