Special drive to mark 10 years of Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao

Chamba District Administration is set to launch a special awareness drive to mark the 10th anniversary of the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao scheme, said Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal. The campaign, which would run until March 8, aims to raise awareness about the welfare of girls, personal hygiene, mental health and legal rights.

During a review meeting, Repaswal outlined the campaign’s activities, which is set to kick off on January 22 with a Prabhat Pheri, followed by a signature and oath-taking ceremony at the Savings Bhavan at 11 am. To ensure its success, daily awareness programs would be organised across the district until March 8. Repaswal emphasised the active involvement of Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, Panchayati Raj representatives and voluntary organisations in these initiatives.

The Deputy Commissioner also instructed officials to organise special sessions during school morning assemblies to raise awareness about personal hygiene for girls. Additionally, he directed the education department to conduct special programmes on January 28 and in February across all educational institutions in the district.

The health department has been tasked with distributing awareness materials, while schools have been instructed to maintain sanitary pad machines and incinerators. Other key areas of focus for the campaign include mental health for adolescent girls, plantation drives, awareness of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act and promoting the women’s helpline (181) and child helpline (1098).

The DC also announced outstanding girl students from Class 10 and 12, as well as police personnel who have contributed significantly to the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign, would be honoured during the district-level Republic Day celebrations at the historic Chaugan in Chamba.

The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Amit Mehra, Deputy Superintendent of Police Jitendra Chaudhary, Deputy Director of Higher Education Bhag Singh, District Development Officer OP Thakur, District Programme Officer Dr Vaibhavi Gurung, OSD Higher Education Umakant Anand, Executive District Programme Officer for Women and Child Development RR Bhardwaj and other departmental officials.