Rajbiraj, February 14

Save Daughter, Educate Daughter campaign, a drive that envisions encouraging parents to send girls to school, has taken off from Saptari today.

Province 2 Chief Minister Lalbabu Raut inaugurated the campaign by providing bicycles to 70 girls amidst a programme in Balan Bihul Rural Municipality today. Balan Bihul is known as one of the most remote local bodies in the district.

“As there are very few families in the Tarai that send girls to school, the drive aims to encourage parents and guardians to do the same,” said the CM. Saying the campaign would also be launched in other districts of the province, Raut sought the support of the Madhesi people to boost the drive.

“The Madhes is still gripped by a number of bad practices such as dowry system, child marriage, discrimination against girls in education, among others. We aim to stamp out these malpractices by successfully running this campaign,” Raut said.

“A society can’t be civilised as long as we don’t ensure education for girls. And the province has made a provision of 50 per cent reserved employment quota for women in a bid to motivate girls towards education in the province,” he said.