Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Governor Prabha Rau on Monday underlined the need to promote female literacy to combat the social evil of female foeticide.

Rau said: "There is a need to encourage female literacy to eradicate social evils like female foeticide."

Addressing a function here organised by Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti to mark International Literacy Day, Rau said "higher literacy levels would also bring about economic freedom for women and empower them."

The Governor commended the state government for its efforts to increase literacy in the state. IANS