Prez stresses need for freedom to girls

President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday underscored the need for giving freedom and encouragement to girls by their parents to enable them to scale new heights in a male-dominated society.

He also praised city braveheart flight purser Neerja Bhanot, saying the country was proud of her. The President was on his maiden visit to the union territory to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the MCM DAV College for Women here.

“There is a long list of women achievers from Chandigarh. But if I have to take one name, I will mention Neerja Bhanot,” said Kovind in his address at the College.

In 1986, she foiled the plans of terrorists with her bravery and saved 359 air passengers. Not just Chandigarh, but the entire nation is proud of her, who laid down her life for the safety of others, said Kovind.

She gave up her life, two days before she would have turned 23, to save travellers during a terrorist-hijack of a Pan-Am flight at Karachi International Airport in Pakistan on September 5, 1986.

Neerja, who was the senior flight purser of Pan-Am 73 (Bombay-Karachi-Frankfurt-New York) flight, was killed in the shootout following the hijack. The hijack had left 20 people dead and 150 injured after a bloodbath at Karachi airport.

Noting that the responsibilities of women should not become an impediment in their way, the President also expressed concern over their low percentage in the technology and engineering sectors.

“In this male-dominated society, women face problems at every step, throughout their lives. How should they come out of this situation?"I think, if parents and family members give freedom to girls to live their lives, give ideological and social independence, encourage them to get experience in new fields, then the self-confidence of girls will go up. They will touch new heights,” he said.

Kovind also said last week, Flying Officer Avani Chaturvedi recorded her name in history by flying a fighter aircraft."Haryana's Phogat sisters (wrestlers) have also shown that there is no sector which is taboo for daughters.

Had parents of P V Sindhu (badminton player), Sania Mirza (tennis player), Saina Nehwal (badminton player), Aruna Reddy (gymnast) not given freedom to their daughters, exposure and encouragement, how could they have achieved great success in their lives," he asked.

Stressing on the need for education and empowerment of women, Kovind, who was accompanied by his wife, said an educated daughter provides education to at least two families and apprises them of the importance of education.

"She takes care of the future of her family and helps in educating the coming generation. Our daughters have brightened the country's name in every field -- be it cultural art or sports, trade and industry. In this series, Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher has also made her name in cinema," the President said.

Kovind also asked women to draw inspiration from the life of boxer Mary Kom.

While the contribution of women has increased in the IT sector, their enrolment in higher education reached 46 per cent during 2015-16, he said, adding their percentage in sectors like technology and engineering was still low.

In his address, the President also talked about the Rock Garden, a fantasy garden that was developed by the art of creating figures from waste material discarded by people. "This city has done exceptionally well when it comes to disposing off waste and the example is Nek Chand's Rock Garden. The planners of the city are behind it. From the very beginning, there is a focus on recycling, reuse, and rejuvenation," he added.

On the occasion, the President honoured Taniya Bhatia, a member of Indian women's cricket team, and national meet record holder Chahat Arora, a bronze medallist in ninth Asian Age Group Swimming Competition, in Uzbekistan, among others.

Those present on the occasion included Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore, Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat, MP Kirron Kher and DAV College managing committee president Punam Suri.