To grannies, with love

Our Correspondent

Jalandhar, September 29

In a benevolent gesture to honour the importance of elders in families, especially grandmothers, the district administration has announced to plant 14,000 saplings in Jalandhar through granddaughters under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme.

Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori on Tuesday formally launched the drive in Doaba Khalsa Senior Secondary School, wherein the little girls planted saplings for their grandmothers.

Accompanied by SDM Rahul Sindhu, Assistant Commissioner Harpreet Singh, DC Ghanshyam Thori said that the drive was just a small effort to recognise the role of grandmothers in the lives of granddaughters and told around 14,000 saplings would be planted for which directions had been issued to the department of social security, women and child development.

He said the motive behind the drive was to sensitise the masses about the importance of girl children in the family along with enhancing green cover by plantation. He said that granddaughters will feel a special kind of bonding with the saplings and they will ensure proper upkeep.

The Deputy Commissioner said as trees keep the environment healthy and give enormous things to the people at no cost similarly grandmothers care for their granddaughters and play a key role in their growth.

He said as there was a regular increase in the levels of air, water and soil pollution the trees could play a crucial role in conserving our environment including reducing air pollutants which would be a real tribute by the girls towards their grandmothers.

“The district administration is deeply committed to the environment and it will leave no stone unturned to achieve the goals of planting more and more saplings”, he added.

The Deputy Commissioner further said that the administration had already launched ‘Dadi Ate Poti di Jodi’ an online contest in which young girls in the age of 15 was participating. “The girls can contest for ‘Selfie with Dadi’ and a video on relations of ‘Dadi and Poti’ (30 seconds-60 seconds) and have to send the entries on WhatsApp number 98720-21457 till September 30, the DC said. He said the first three best entries would get a cash award of Rs10,000, Rs5,000 and Rs2,100. Ten consolation prizes of Rs1,100 would also be awarded.

On the occasion, District Programme Officer Gurminder Singh Randhawa and others were present. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Income Tax Dr Gagan Kundra Thori along with her daughters also planted saplings there and distributed sanitary pads, masks and sanitisers.