PM makes strong plea to stop female foeticide

Manmohan says female foeticide must be stopped and gender disparities eliminated.

In the backdrop of the shocking discovery of female foetuses dumped in a well in Punjab, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said female foeticide must be stopped and gender disparities eliminated.

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"We must end the crime of female foeticide. We must eliminate gender disparity," Singh said in his address to the nation on the 60th Independence Day.

"We have a dream of an India in which every woman can feel safe, secure and empowered. Where our mothers, sisters and daughters are assured a life of dignity and personal security," he added.

He said it should be ensured that every young woman was educated and skilled and capable of guiding a new generation.

Recently, over 20 female foetuses were found dumped in a well behind a private nursing home in Punjab, raising concerns about female foeticide.

Singh noted that under the National Rural Health Mission, as many as two lakh women have been employed has health assistants at the village level and four lakh more women will be involved in the scheme soon.