New Delhi, February 19: Launching ”Bell Bajao” campaign to end domestic violence against women in the Capital, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today called upon people to treat their children equally and make the male members of the family treat their mothers, sisters and wives with dignity.
Addressing a gathering here on the occasion, Ms Dikshit said it was a social problem rather than a law and order one. Most often the girl child is treated as a lesser human being which is the root cause of the problem.
”The girl is as important as the boy…she should be given equal opportunity to excel in life,” she said adding that it was the girl who generally takes care of the parents when they need their children the most.
Women form 50 per cent of society and economic stability would come only with social equality, she said.
”A lot is to be done…the general mindset is to be changed to end this menace.” In the context of Delhi becoming unsafe for women, she said steps were being initiated to the make the city safer for its citizens, especially women but everybody has to work towards it.
The government or any other authority cannot do much to stop violence against women. It is the society which has to come forward and make the desired difference, the Chief Minister said.
The campaign van of the NGO ‘Breakthrough’, which has been travelling across the country for the past three years, would visit different parts of the city in the next two weeks to spread awareness on the issue.
The campaign has already covered over 140 million people in the country before entering the capita. It is expected to visit one million people in the city.
Many eminent women personalities, including Health Minister Kiran Walia, were present on the occasion.
–UNI