PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the daughters empower and enrich society through their values, affection and sacrifice and they are carriers of our culture and traditions. He was addressing a mass Kanya Pujan programme organised at the Sanatan Dharma Mandir in Premnagar here on Tuesday. The CM said that in Indian culture, girls are considered the embodiment of the goddess. The scriptures also accord them a highly respectable place. He said that on this auspicious occasion of Kanya Pujan, society should pledge to ensure every daughter’s right to education, security and respect. Dhami said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union and the State governments are continuously working to empower girls. He said that the government has provided scholarships and started schemes such as bicycle distribution upon admission to Class IX, giving incentives to girls after passing Class XII and providing 30 percent horizontal reservation in government jobs to encourage education of girls. The CM added that assistance of up to Rs 61,000 is being provided for mass weddings of daughters of registered construction workers and up to Rs 55,000 for individual weddings. Marriage assistance of Rs 50,000 is also being provided to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and economically weaker sections. He averred that the State government is committed to the empower daughters at every level from their birth to education, health and employment through various schemes including Nanda Gaura Yojana, Gaura Devi Kanyadhan Yojana, Mukhyamantri Mahalaxmi Kit Yojana and Poshan Yojana. Dhami said the nine days of Navratri are not limited to worship but also provide an opportunity to strengthen the spirit of self-purification, service, humility and social responsibility. “Kanya Pujan is a symbol of our tradition as well as service, compassion and humility. All the citizens should take a pledge to protect, educate, and progress every daughter, so that the spirit of Kanya Pujan can be truly meaningful’’. Local MLA Savita Kapoor, BJP Mahanagar president Siddharth Agarwal and others attended the ceremony.
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