Srinagar, Sep 22 (IANS): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sunday underlined the need for focused attention by all towards eradicating the menace of female foeticide.

Interacting with a United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) team led by its regional director Karin Halshof here Sunday, Abdullah said the state government took various initiatives for the welfare and holistic development of children, particularly the girl child.

He said religious leaders, social activists, non-governmental organisations and public have to coordinate for addressing this issue and save the future of the state.

The chief minister said UNICEF participation in creating educational environment and making schools seats of human resource development, moral and general education was welcome.

He said the state would like to work with UNICEF to achieve the task of achieving comprehensive development of children, their protection and proper upkeep.

Abdullah said capacity building in teaching community is imperative in this regard and UNICEF could extent favourable help to the state for this purpose.

He said the state government and UNICEF were working together for rehabilitation of juveniles and preventing them from indulging in crimes and misdeeds.

He said better educational environment in schools and proper care in homes are important in this regard.