DW BUREAU / Ludhiana

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday exhorted the girls to come forward and participate in politics for becoming an active partner in the decision making policy mechanism and to bring the necessary and much needed change in society.

Addressing the gathering during the annual convocation of the Government College for Girls here today, the Chief Minister said that these days girls have outnumbered boys in every other field but Politics is still an exception to it. He said that the field has been hitherto considered as fiefdom of the men but now the time has come when the women must excel in this field too. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that women's participation in this field is imperative to carve out an egalitarian society and in the larger interest of society and state.

The Chief Minister said that this will help in cementing the ethos of democracy at the grass root level along with enhancing the participation of women in this field. He said that the women must exercise their franchise carefully so that their vote makes a difference by sending the right type of leaders in the state assembly and Parliament. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this will help in making Punjab a frontrunner, progressive and prosperous state in the country.

The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that girls are excelling in all the fields today. He said that the teachers are very happy when they see their students scaling new heights in various fields. Extending good wishes to the students for their bright and prosperous future, Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed hope that they will carve a niche for themselves in coming days adding he said that these girls were fortunate to have a dynamic Principal like Suman Lata who can groom

their career well.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has made concerted efforts for empowering women in the state. He said that his government has appointed eight officers as appointed Deputy Commissioners and six women have been appointed Senior Superintendent of Police. Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that 18 women officers have been appointed ADCs, which is the highest number of females posted by any government on these coveted posts.

The Chief Minister said that for the first time in the history of the state, any government has given a record number of more than 52,000 jobs to the youth in 36 months of coming into power. He said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction for him that all the jobs have been given completely on the basis of merit, san any corruption or nepotism. Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed hope that these youth will become an active partner in the socio-economic development of the state by joining these respective departments.

The Chief Minister said that the world is replete of examples where people from humble backgrounds have conquered the world through their hard work and dedication. He said that the girls must take inspiration from such examples to prove their mettle across the globe adding that the state government will facilitate them for this noble cause. Citing the example of garden, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a bouquet has a variety of flowers that always fascinate people due to which they love to see it.

The Chief Minister said that besides being the nation's food bowl, Punjab also has a distinction of being the sword arm of the country and its people are well known all over the world for their courage, resilience and spirit of enterprise. He said that every inch of this sacred land has the footprint of great Gurus, saints, seers and martyrs, who have shown us the way to oppose tyranny, injustice and oppression. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab inherits rich cultural legacy and is known world over for its warm hospitality.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the traditional parties are envious of him because he hails from a common family and is working tirelessly to ensure welfare of people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders had always believed that they have divine right to rule the state due to which they are not able to digest that a common man is running the state efficiently. He said that these leaders have befooled the people for a long time but now people are not getting swayed by their misleading propaganda.

The Chief Minister recalled his long association with Ludhiana which dates back to early 1990s when he was struggling as an artist. He exhorted the girls to never lose heart or get depressed from the failures in life as they are the real stepping stones for the progress of a human being. Bhagwant Singh Mann also called upon them to stay humble and work hard for succeeding in life through hard work and dedication.

(editor@dailyworld.in)