President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil said that ill practices like dowry, female foeticide and child marriage are adversely affecting the development of the country and society should come forward to stop them. Mrs.Patil was addressing a public meeting at Ralawata village Sikar district of Rajasthan after unveiling the statue of warrior Maharao Shekhaji.

The President remembered the work of Maharao Shekhaji in the field of communal harmony and respect of women. She emphasised on the need of girl education and said that every opportunity of education and development should be provided to women.

Later the President unveiled the statue of Satyavan Singh Yadav at Lakhu village in Jhunjhunu district on Tuesday. Yadav sacrificed his life during a naxal attack in Chattisgarh last year. On the occasion, Mrs. Patil said that naxalism and terrorism are the biggest challenges before development of the nation. She said that nothing could be achieved by violence. Governor of Rajsthan Sivraj Patil and Chief Minister M Ashok Gehlot also addressed the function.