- “URGENT NEED TO CREATE AWARENESS ON GIRL SAFETY”: DELHI’S DY. CM, SHRI MANISH SISODIA SAYS AT INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD
New Delhi: 11/10/2017
Hundreds of young girls raised their voices on the International Day of the Girl observed today in the heart of the nation’s capital at Central Park in Connaught Place, New Delhi against the issue of safety and security faced by them. They demanded that safety was their right and appealed to all sections of society to help them feel safe. This concern was voiced at a public event brought together by NGOs Save the Children, Sacchi Saheli and Sashakt Foundation.
Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Shri Manish Sisodia was the chief guest in the function while minister of Law & Justice, Shri Kailash Gahlot, Kamla Bhasin (Sangat, NGO), Swati Jaihind (Chairperson, DCW), Sanjeev Jain (Secretary, DSLSA), Rekha Aggarwal (Advocate) and Dr. Arun Gupta, (President, DMC) expressed their commitment to the cause of the safety of Girls.
A 1000-strong audience was present at the event which highlighted the need for girls to feel safe in the city. 11th of October this year marks the fifth anniversary of International Day of the Girl Child — which was declared an international observance day in 2012 by the United Nations. It marks an annual celebration of girls across the globe, and reminds us of the barriers they face and the challenges they must overcome.
Shri Sisodia Said that “Ensuring that girls feel safe in the national capital, as indeed across the country, is an urgent endeavor that every citizen of India must actively engage in,” said Sisodia. “It is not just the responsibility of the government and the law machinery. This needs to become a people’s movement and a collective responsibility. The International Day of the Girl provides a timely reminder to create awareness and mobilize support from across all segments of society to this very important cause.”
The event also introduced girls and their families to networks that would help them in the long run, bringing together important stakeholders like the law ministry, police, women’s commission, legal services, who have a direct bearing on the safety and wellbeing of girls.
Dr. Arun Gupta, President, Delhi Medical Council, said “More and more women are rubbing shoulder to shoulder with men in all walks of life. Despite that they face an uphill battle when it comes to issues of their safety and security. If India has to truly march into the 21st century, we must ensure they are not booged down by issues that prevent them from realizing their potential.”
Dr. Surbhi Singh, Founder of Sachhi Saheli, said, “Young women today completely capable of leading their own lives and the nation. But the issue of safety and violence continues to pull them down. Girls need to take charge of the situation and speak up. The slogan, ‘Tu bolegi muh kholegi, Tabhi zamana badlega’ embodies just that spirit.”
“We are excited by the support we are receiving for our efforts to raise awareness about the need to protect girls in urban and rural India,” said Vishal Chowla, Director of External Engagement for Save the Children. “Through this campaign, we aim to sustain the momentum built up through our online and offline mobilisations till March 2018, and beyond, across 11 states in India.”
“Girls have the power to transform their own lives, their families, their communities and the world. The International Day of the Girl reminds us of our responsibility to empower these young minds to grow, prosper and lead a life of dignity and respect. While girls need to live a life without fear, the society needs to play its part to ensure their safety and well-being,” said Pratik Kumar, Founder of Sashakt Foundation.
The highlight of the event was when young girls from schools and slums of Delhi raised their voices to talk about issues of safety and security faced by them in their daily lives. Eleven girl champions presented a charter of eleven demands to the Chief Guest that would make them feel safe. A Nukkad Natak by the famous Asmita group and Sand Art by Rahul Arya highlighted the challenges and struggles of the girl child in an artistic manner. The Central Park wore a festive look as a very receptive crowd enjoyed an outing for an important cause, in the beautiful weather.
About Sachi Saheli: Is a Delhi based NGO, started by Dr. Surbhi Singh, which conducts awareness campaigns to help promote scientific theories around menstruation and bust myths and taboos.
About Sashakt Foundation: works in Delhi NCR and Gujarat for the benefit of Adolescents girls in a holistic manner so that they are able to realise their potential and excel in life.
About Save the Children works across 20 states of India and 120 countries around the world; it focusses on issues related to education, health, protection of children and humanitarian work — especially for the most deprived and marginalized children.
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