Dehradun: Society for Health, Education & Women Empowerment Awareness (SHEWA) in collaboration with Sanjay maternity centre today celebrated National day of Girl Child. The purpose of the day is to spread awareness among the people about the inequalities girls face in India. It also aims towards promoting awareness about the rights of the girl child and to increase awareness on the importance of girl education, and their health and nutrition
Dr. Sujata Sanjay, while speaking on the topic of ‘woman empowerment’, said: “Though women have made their mark in academic field, she is somehow unaware of her rights, which creates a number of problems in her journey of life”. She also highlighted various achievements made by women in diverse fields.
Speaking on the occasion the Dr Sujata threw light on the role of women in building a prosperous society. She said literacy among women folk is the main pillar and an important issue. Dr. Sujata said this gender is most vulnerable to abuse and exploitation as their voices are not heard in the male dominated society.
Till today, a lot of girls face inequality in the society with respect to their right to education, nutrition, legal rights, etc. The main objective of celebrating this day is to spread awareness in the society about these inequalities. The day is observed for enhancing opportunities for the girls in the country and to ensure that the girl children get respect and equality in rights. This day also focuses on making sure that the girl children become aware of their rights.
Dr. Pratik secretary SHEWA said several steps need to be taken in order to give concrete shape to the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign and Teacher/ educators/ parents in India have an important role to play.
Education should include gender studies in the core curriculum of schools so that students examine gendered social norms critically and learn to develop egalitarian constructions of masculinity and femininity. Boys and young men must be educated in schools to value and respect women and girls, take responsibility for the increasing violence against girls, and respect girls’ rights to their own bodies. Girls must be empowered by their education to speak up when they are abused, protest unwanted advances and protect themselves, and to demand their right to bodily integrity and respect in and outside of their homes. Women empowerment is must for their confidence, dignity and honor.
Dr Pratik, Secretary SHEWA NGO, said, “We are extremely happy to strongly commit ourselves to Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Mission. This social initiative has the power to change the entire socio-economic scenario of our society and lead us towards greater development and equitable society and in the long term, take us to a scenario where women contribute equally and strongly to our society’s and country’s development. No doubt, it will unleash a fresh wave of ‘Nari Shakti’ for a better India.”
