JU celebrates National Girl Child Day

JU establishing ‘Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board’ to empower women-JUVC
Girls are the epitome of courage, determination, sacrifice, commitment, talent and love-Dr Darakshan Andrabi

“wo kal hi kya tha, jisme dikh rha tha andhera, aaj to andhere mai be suraj ki kiran nazar a rahi hai ” said Dr Darakshan Andrabi, Chairperson J&K Waqf Board  at a function organized by Department of Home Science, University of Jammu.Dr Andrabi, who was Chief Guest on the occasion underlined that the girls are the epitome of courage, determination, sacrifice, commitment, talent and love. She discussed Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s initiatives undertaken for the girl child in India. She added that girl education is important, they are not weak. She mentioned that she feels so proud to see girls doing at par excellence in different sectors of our society. It is pertinent to mention here that she is an eminent politician and humanitarian from Jammu& Kashmir, who has contributed immensely towards the empowerment of women and girls. She has served as the Chairperson of the Waqf Development Committee, and Women & Education Committee of Union Minority Affairs. She served as the Advisory Member of Social Welfare Department for two and a half years till 2018.  Dr Andrabi has fought for women's rights for more than two decades and she has participated in women empowerment initiatives regularly throughout the country.

 Prof. Umesh Rai Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, in his presidential address said that the education of girls is very important and highlighted the same by quoting Mahatma Gandhi “If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate an entire family.” and  Kofi Annan “To educate girls is to reduce poverty”. One of the initiatives towards empowerment of women has been concretized by the way of establishing the ‘Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board’ to promote capacity building, literacy and employment among young girls/women.

Earlier, Prof. SamridhiArora in her welcome address mentioned that the main objective of the events was to celebrate this day to enhance the understanding of the injustices that girls experience in society, in their education, safety, security, and survival. The events highlighted several programs, schemes and initiatives of the Government of India, such as BetiBachaoBetiPadhao. Prof. ShahsiManhas, introduced the Chief Guest and Dr.SarikaManhas presented a vote of thanks.

Panel Discussion was held on the Role of Policies and Programs in Safeguarding the Girl Child. The panellist were Ms.Shalini Sharma, Chairperson, Child welfare Committe, Ms.Shagun Manchanda, District Coordinator Mission Shakti, Ms.Purnima Dhar, Program manager, Women’s Helpline (181), and Dr.Deepali Arora, Advocate J&K High Court. Prof. Neeru Sharma moderated the Panel Discussion. The key outcomes of the panel discussion highlighted the crucial role of monitoring in making the government schemes successful at grass root level as it is evident from the current scenario that there exits loopholes in the implementation of government schemes and policies regarding girl child and women which hamper their proper functioning.

It is noteworthy to mention here that the celebration of National Girl Child Day 2023 started with a poster session on the 23rd of January 2023 where participation of 27 students from many Departments like DSRS, Environment Sciences, Geology, Geography, Botany, Human Genetics, Remote Sensing &GIS, sociology, Law School, English, Commerce, and Home Science including DDE, and the Cluster University of Jammu was there. The session was inaugurated by the Head of the Department of Home Science, Prof. Samridhi Arora, who welcomed the participants. The adjudicators were Prof. Jasbir Singh, HOD Philosophy and, Prof. Vishav Raksha, HOD Sociology and Director Centre for Women Studies, both from the University of Jammu  and Dr.Archana Chaudhary, Eminent Artist and Academician.

Awards were also distributed among winners of poster making competition. First prize was won by Ms. Prakriti Sharma (Cluster University of Jammu), Second prize by Ms. Anjali Sial (Deptt. of Home Science) and the Third prize to Ms.Sumriti, DDE, and three consolation prizes were also awarded to Janvi and ShaheenKausar, Deptt. of Botany, and SiyaliBhagat, Deptt. of Home Science.

 Among others, Prof Sundeep Pandita, Director, HRDC,JU, Sh Ranjeet Kalra, Teaching faculty,HRDC,JU, faculty members, Scholars, and students were also present on the occasion.