Canadian Consulate To Adopt 12 Punjab Villages
BASSI PATHANA – The Canadian Consulate has decided to adopt 12 villages in Fatehgarh Sahib district for creating awareness on violence against women and child marriage. The project will be funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).
Consul General of Canada Christopher Gibbins stated this after inaugurating ‘Jago’, a pilot project of Mehar Baba Charitable Trust (MBCT), here.
He said the project was selected by the Canadian Consulate as a pilot project under which 12 villages will be adopted for awareness campaign. He said Canada was committed to the empowerment of women.
Praising Centre’s initiatives for women empowerment, Gibbens said, “The government has started many self-employment schemes for women under which women can make self-help groups and earn their living. It has proved beneficial for village-women.”
Hassan Singh Meji, Trustee, said the cost of the project would be borne by the CFLI after an approval from the Centre. He said the trust had identified 12 villages, including Damheri, Ferozepur, Ladpuri, Udalpur, Kheri Noudh Singh, Fatehgarh Niuwan, Salar Majra, Jallowal, Lohar Majra Kalan, Riapur, Majri and Kalewal.
He said research-supported activities planned and customised by professionals from the School of Public Health, PGIMER, Division of Public Health, University of Utah, and Preet Nagar Films would be organised.
Dr Manmeet Kaur, Associate Professor and working on gender and health education from the School of Public health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, addressed the gathering about the timeline of the planned activities.
Ajit Singh Chatha, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Dr Jaswinder Kaur Chatha, psychiatrist from West Virginia, and Surinder Paul Kaur were among those present at the meeting.
