19-10-2007 : Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi
The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil urged a group of women and girls from Jammu and Kashmir who met her at Rashtrapati Bhavan today to spread the message of the importance of education of the girl child when they return to their homes after their visit to Delhi.
The President was speaking while interacting with a group of 34 women and girls from the districts of Rajouri, Doda and Poonch who are currently on a visit to Delhi, Ajmer and Jaipur under the Indian Army's 'Operation Sadbhavana'. The Operation is part of the Army's efforts in providing succor to civilians of Jammu and Kashmir and to enable them to have a feel of the rich traditions of the other parts of the country. The ladies will be felicitated by various Army formations enroute to instill a feeling of belongingness and unity. The women and girls are in the age group of 18 to 50 years. The group arrived in the capital today.
The theme of the tour is, "Nari Shakti Shanti Path Par". Two lady officers of the Army are leading the group.
During the interaction with the President, the group said they were very happy with the work being done by the Army for them in their districts and also are happy that the tour has given them an opportunity to travel outside their district and state, to see the development and progress that has taken place in the country.
Smt. Patil was very keen to know from the group what professions they were pursuing. They told her that some of them are involved in agriculture while others have taken up tailoring and stitching for which the Army has helped them. The President said the women in the group were brave as they have been facing up to terrorism and she also urged them to help the Army in its efforts to fight terrorism in the state. The President emphasized on the need to educate the girl child. Smt. Patil said, "the education of the girl child is as important as the education of the boy child".
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