H.K. Mayer, principal of the school, while welcoming Gosain, who was the chief guest on the occasion, highlighted the objectives of the programme while Neena Jindal conducted the stage. Among the different speakers Ravinder Singh and Dr Surinder Kaur expressed their deep concern over decreasing number of girl children in Panjab. Dr Kuldeep Kaur Sahni, senior medical officer, in his lecture said that female foeticide was a blot on the fair name of society and stressed on joining efforts to eradicate this evil.

Prizes were distributed to the winners in poem recitation, declamation and chart-making competitions held on the occasion. Dr. Rashmi Bedi, Shiv Ram Saroye, president of Parent-Teachers Association, Dr Jasbir Kaur, Jagdev Singh Sekhon, Jaswinder Singh, Khushwant Kaur, Asha Kapila and Kanwaljit Kaur were among those who participated in this function.

As many as 50 students participated in the seminar organised by G.A.D. Public School, New Shimla Puri. Kulwinder Kaur, vice-principal of the school, said that schools and voluntary organisations should fight against malpractice of female foeticide.

The seminar was inaugurated by Rakhwinder Singh Gabria, who appreciated the efforts of the school. Dr Narjeet Kaur from Didar Hospital was the chief guest on this occasion. Sukhwinder Singh, the school director, appreciated the efforts of students and staff for holding the seminar. Rajinder Sharma, the school principal, thanked all the participants in the end.

It was Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle which organised a seminar on female foeticide and AIDS at Guru Teg Bahadur Institute of Nursing Training and Government High School at Daad.

Addressing the seminar, Satnam Singh Sallopuri, director, Youth Services, said that in Sikh religion women had been given equal rights as men. He said that the scourge of female foeticide was eating into the male ratio of the society.

About AIDS, Satnam Singh explained that Guru Nanak Dev’s sermon asking humans to maintain virginity before marriage and thus to save oneself from mental and physical ailment. He said that today’s youth needed to inculcate these values and should avoid copying the western world.