Bhaiya Lal Soni, in-charge of primary school at Loharwara in Katni district of Madhya Pradesh, worships girl students and washes their feet with 'ganga jal' every day. Only after doing this, he begins teaching and other work. He has been doing it for around 23 years without any fail under a special campaign named "Humara Ghar, Hamara Vidyalaya". Even when schools were forced to remain closed during the Coronavirus pandemic, he did not forget to do 'kanya pujan' in 'mohalla classes'.

 

"I began 'Namami Janani' campaign with a pious mind with an aim to give due respect to women and girls. We regularily wash girls' feet with 'ganga jal' before daily prayers and perform 'pooja' as it is done during 'Navratra kanya pujan'," said Soni.

 

The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government of Madhya Pradesh has decided that on January 25, on the occasion of Good Governance Day, all government programmes will begin with the worship of girls.

 

Praising the government's decision, Soni said, "We are running the 'Namami Janani' campaign to pay respect to women and girls, as well as, we are trying to give a message of cleanliness and eradicating untouchability."

 

When asked that how this idea came to his mind, Soni said, "I got the inspiration from my family. I also noticed that the women don't get the due respect in the society that they actually deserve. Hence, I started this program as an initiative to change people's mindset."

 

"I have decided that I would respect 'daughters' for whole life so that an atmosphere of morality would be developed and immoral acts would be stopped," he added.

 

Sukhraj Singh, the former sarpanch of the village, said that this 'kanya poojan' is being done in the school since more than two decades. "This is a good initiative towards respecting women and girls. When they perform this pooja every day before prayers, it mesmerises people. Everyone praises this effort."

 

Soni has been felicitated for this exemplary work from district to state level. His name has also been included in the India and Asia Book of Records.