Early Times Report
SHIMLA, Nov 4: Governor Kavinder Gupta today called for collective efforts to build a society where every girl gets equal opportunities, every woman lives with dignity and security, and every youth becomes self-reliant and contributes meaningfully to nation-building.
The Governor was addressing the Indian Excellence Awards-2026, organized by the Ladli Foundation, Himachal Pradesh, at Bilaspur.
He congratulated the Foundation for organizing the event and extended his best wishes to all the individuals and institutions being honoured for their outstanding contributions to society and the nation.
The Governor said that the real progress of a society is measured not merely by economic growth but also by the respect and security accorded to women, the opportunities available to daughters, the awareness and self-reliance of its youth, and the sensitivity shown towards weaker and disadvantaged sections. He said that the work being undertaken by the Ladli Foundation in these areas reflected a broader commitment to social welfare.
Referring to the place of women in Indian culture, the Governor said that women have traditionally been regarded as the embodiment of strength, creativity and values. He observed that Indian women were making remarkable contributions in education, science, sports, administration, defence, entrepreneurship and politics. However, it was essential to ensure that every girl had access to education, safety, equal opportunities and the means to become self-reliant.
The Governor said that Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, initiated under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, was not merely a government campaign but a movement for social awareness. He stressed the need to collectively oppose social evils such as female foeticide, gender discrimination, child marriage and violence against women.
Expressing concern over the growing menace of drug abuse, the Governor described Himachal Pradesh's youth as its greatest asset and said that substance abuse posed a serious challenge to young people, families and society. He emphasized that the fight against drugs was not the responsibility of the government or police alone but a collective responsibility of every citizen. He said that young people must be encouraged not only to stay away from drugs but also to pursue positive goals through sports, education, skill development, tourism, agriculture, horticulture, self-employment and entrepreneurship. Highlighting the importance of environmental conservation, the Governor said that Himachal Pradesh's natural beauty, forests, rivers, lakes and water resources were invaluable assets that must be protected for future generations. He stressed that environmental protection should go beyond plantation drives and include water conservation, reduced use of plastic, cleanliness and responsible utilization of natural resources as part of everyday life.
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