Once known for female infanticide, today Haryana is saving its daughters: PM Modi at Beti Bachao Andolan launch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that there was a time when the state of Haryana had the worst male-female child ratio, but on Sunday with the launch of his 'Beti Bachao Andolan' (Save the Girl Child Campaign), the state has acquired and achieved a changed status of saving its girls and daughters. "Haryana as a state had the worst child sex ratio. The Haryana which was known for female infanticide is today known for Beti Bachao (saving the girl child). And, this has spread to the entire country from here (Haryana)," Prime Minister Modi said here.

Emphasizing development as the ultimate goal of the BJP-led NDA government, the Prime Minister said his sole aim is to bring development in Haryana and in the country. "Haryana is my second home. After leaving Gujarat, I have spent most of my time here. Since the time you have elected us, our sole mantra (aim) and goal is vikas (development). If there is development, then our farmers will prosper, the youth will get employment. If there is development, then children from poor background will get quality education, the poor will get shelter to live," the Prime Minister said.

"The developmental work could have been completed in last 60 years, but past governments were not serious on the issue of development. The Centre and the state government have to walk together in order to achieve the goal of development. If some work is incomplete, it is the duty of this government to complete it. Solution does not lie only in criticising," he added. The Prime Minister also used the occasion to congratulate Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and his team for handling the project of the expansion of the Delhi Metro very well and setting an example for the world to see.

"I want to congratulate Venkaiah for setting an example for the world by making this metro environment-friendly. The stations have solar panels installed which produce 2MW electricity. This electricity produced is used for all activities in the metro station. This sets an example for the world," said the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister also said that the new metro line will drive the economy in Haryana and will generate employment. "Today the Badarpur-Faridabad Metro Line of Delhi Metro is inaugurated. Now, Haryana can proudly say that we have metro connectivity. Faridabad is in the list of smart cities. Now , people from Delhi can come to Faridabad to celebrate their weekend. This will also drive the economy and generate employment here. This metro line will further be extended to Ballabhgarh," the Prime Minister said.

Referring to the OROP scheme, Prime Minister Modi said, "Haryana is known as the birth place of jawans. The issue of One Rank One Pension (OROP) was pending for 42 years. For four decades, governments came and went, but no one came up with the implementation of OROP. Why are some people misleading others and the jawans of the nation? We began work on OROP from Day 1 and took a decision. I went deeper into the issue and got to know this OROP is not about Rs. 500 crores. This is about Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 10,000 crores,? the Prime Minister added.