By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 24 Jan: Society for Health, Education & Women Empowerment Awareness (SHEWA) in collaboration with Sanjay Maternity Centre celebrated the National Day of the Girl Child, here, today.
Dr Sujata Sanjay, while speaking on the topic of ‘woman empowerment’, emphasised, “Though women have made their mark in the academic field, they are somehow unaware of their rights, which creates a number of problems in the journey of life.” She also highlighted various achievements of women in diverse fields.
Dr Sujata threw light on the role of women in building a prosperous society. She said literacy among women folk is the main pillar of development. 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 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 they get respect and equality. 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 teachers and 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 a must for their confidence, dignity and honour.
He added, “We are extremely happy to strongly commit ourselves to the 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, 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.”
