Modi bats for girl child in 'adopted' village

Reiterating the need to protect the girl child, an issue he has highlighted in his Independence Day speech in August, the PM said, "In some villages, when a girl is born, there is disappointment or trouble. Jayapur will welcome the arrival of daughters."

"When a daughter is born, plant a tree. 20 years later, you can sell 5 trees for her wedding. But this doesn't happen. Birth of a daughter is a reason of gloom in the family. I say when a daughter is born, the whole family should celebrate the occasion like a festival," he added.

PM was in Jayapur, to adopt the village, which is about 20 kilometres from the ancient temple town of Varanasi, as part of his Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, in which he urged all MPs to adopt one village from their constituencies as "a model village" by 2016, and add another two by 2019, and administer special attention to them to improve infrastructure and sanitation.

He said, "We should work together towards building an ideal village. People need to take initiative for development of villages. I want them to see for themselves whether the place has progressed. I know they've come far. Lots to learn from experience of those in the village."

Refering to his own adoption Modi said: "Jayapur is adopting me, not the other way round. I urge you to work together to make Jayapur an ideal village. It's a privilege to associate with Jayapur village. We should be more attached to villages, the young generation lacks that connection."

Earlier, PM was visited his seat, Varanasi for the first time since assuming the Prime Minister's post.

“I am in here as your servant. Varanasi has made me their own. Perhaps there is no other city in the world which is endowed with so many resources and cultural heritages like it has. It always feels good to be back among people of my own,” PM Modi said while addressing a gathering.

He was on a two-day visit to set up a trade facilitation centre promoting the famous Varanasi textile industry in the region.

“There has to be a comprehensive plan. I believe after agriculture textile is the most important sector. It is the second job generating sector after agriculture,” he said, pointing out that there is no need for any added marketing as people already know about it (Varanasi saree).

Promoting the textile industry and thousands of weavers involved in the trade, PM Modi said that there is an assured market for Varanasi saree.

“All you need to do is to maintain its quality. The trade facilitation centre will be set up to encourage the rich heritage of our textile industry here in Varanasi…It is your responsibility how to be associated with this initiative. I am sure we can take it much further by meeting global requirements and marketing strategies,” he added.