Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today announced that India’s bronze medalist at the Rio Olympics, Sakshi Malik, will be the brand ambassador of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign in the state.
‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ programme aims to empower the girl child and stop female foeticide. Haryana particularly is a state that has a skewed gender ratio.
Malik hails from the Mokhra Khas village in the state’s Rohtak district.
Malik scripted history by becoming the first-ever Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in the sport of wrestling. She had defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Aisuluu Tynybekova to clinch the bronze medal.
Sakshi, who arrived in Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport early on Wednesday from Rio de Janeiro, was given a rousing reception at the airport itself.
“I want to thank each and everyone for such a warm welcome. So happy to see so many people cheering for me. I also want to thanks all those who prayed for me, which helped me win the medal for my country. It was my dream to win an Olympic medal and I worked really hard for that. Now that I have won it, it seems as if I am living my dream,” Sakshi told reporters upon her arrival.
The Haryana government in a state-level function held to honour Sakshi, rewarded her with a Rs 2.5 crore check and announced a government job for her.
The Delhi government had also announced a reward of Rs 1 crore for her.
