12-year old sets out on mission against female foeticide

The 12-year-old, Ishita Uppal, a Class VII student of Little Flower Convent School, Sector 14, Panchkula today started her 21-day all-India voyage to spread awareness against female foeticide.

The journey, which started from Zorawar Singh Fateh Singh Senior Secondary School, School, here today with flagging off by Fatehgarh Sahib Deputy Commissioner Yashvir Mahajan, would take her to major parts of India and would culminate at Mumbai on December 19.

Earlier, Ishita accompanied by social worker Dr N S Bawa paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, where Head Granthi Bhai Harpal Singh presented her with a 'siropa' (robe of honour). She was also honoured by Citizen Club, Bassi Pathana. It may be mentioned here that district Fatehgarh Sahib of Punjab has earned dubious distinction due to lowest sex ratio in country. Speaking to media persons, Ishita said the fight against female foeticide must begin at home and girls must take upon themselves to create awareness about skewed sex ratio. She said that extensive tour of Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana was high on her agenda as these had one of the lowest sex ratio.

''During my tour I would endeavour to meet countrys top leadership, including President Pratibha Patil, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Leader of the Opposition L K Advani to impress upon them to enact tougher laws for the violators of the PNDT Act'', she said.

Ishita had carefully planned to end her visit at Mumbai. Since the film media has influence on millions of the people all over the world, top Bollywood stars would be roped in for the campaign. She plans to call on the stalwarts of the film industry to lend their helping hand in the mission against adverse sex ratio. ''With one million girls aborted every year illegally every year it is high time society to launch a crusade against this social evil'', Dr D Uppal, her father, who is the brain child behind her mission added.

She said she plans to meet Ms Sonia Gandhi on December 9 to seek her blessings. She will also meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek his cooperation. She will culminate her journey in Mumbai on December 19, on the birthday of President Pratibha Patil.

-- (UNI) -- 21DR12.xml

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