Women’s Day: UP schools to push gender equality by holding array of events

PRAYAGRAJ, Feb 27 (HS): Education department on Saturday kicked off an array of awareness events on ‘gender equality’ in schools across UP under the Mission Shakti campaign ahead of International Women’s Day to be celebrated on March 8.

Speaking to HS, IAS officer Vijay Kiran Anand informed that array of events have been planned by authorities like poster competition on the theme of gender discrimination and child marriage, quiz competition, presentation of nukkad nataks to ensure maximum participation of students. “On March 4, the school staff and students from classes 6 to 8 will take out a rally to on menstrual hygiene. The students will bring out a newspaper ‘baal akhbar’ on March 5 and on March 6 successful women from different fields will be invited to share their experiences with students. On March 7, there will be exhibitions at schools to display the posters, slogans and newspapers created by students. On March 8, meritorious students and their mothers will be felicitated,” he said.

“The basic education department has issued directives to all basic shiksha adhikaris (BSAs) across the state. We have been told to hold parents’ meet at schools and also at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs). During the chaupal, the parents will be asked to take a pledge to send their girl child to school regularly, provide them proper environment to study at home and encourage their daughters to pursue the career of their choice. Schools will also make an appeal to the parents of keeping their children informed about the helpline numbers of the government. They will also be given a pledge to follow gender equality in letter and spirit,” said Sanjay Kumar Kushwaha, BSA Prayagraj while speaking to HS.