Sensitization program on “NATIONAL GIRL CHILD DAY”

| Report |

On the occasion of National Girl Child Day a virtual sensitization program was organized by Subharti Law College of Swami Vivekanand Subharti  University, Meerut in association with District Legal Service Authority, Meerut,  UP.
The program was started by the master of ceremony Dr. Sarika Tyagi, (Associate  Professor, Convener Law Club, Faculty of Law) by quoting “Rishton ke Uljhe  Dhagon ko Dheere –Dheere Khol Rahi Hain, Bitiya Kuchh Bol Rahi Hain,  Poore Ghar Me Dol Rahi Hain” and gave an introduction of the event and importance of the day. Further, she warmly welcomes all the distinguished guest speakers and participants. Thereafter she invited the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of the University for his address. In his address Maj.Gen. (Dr.) G.K. Thapliyal  Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, SVS University gave his best wishes for the success of the program and said that female infanticide, gender inequality and discrimination, sexual abuse, and violence, there are numerous issues that girls have to face. To achieve the objective of highlighting the inequalities faced by girls.  Promoting awareness about the rights of a girl child and the importance of their education, health, and nutrition every year this day is being celebrated. But now it is the time to change the mindset of the individuals and public as having a  perception in their mind that “girl is weak and the boy is strong” or “Betiyan  Paraya Dhan hoti hain” or “Khandan ko chalaane ke liye ladka jaroori hai”.  Furthermore, he said that we are already having fundamental rights for everyone and can be availed by anyone without any discrimination as guaranteed by the Constitution of India. Apart from this constitutional remedies are also there for the implementation of these rights by using Article 32 of the

Constitution of India. Not only this, States are under the obligation to implement the policies for the protection of girl children.
Thereafter Dr. Reena Bishnoi (Associate Professor) Member ICC, SVSU,  Meerut, said that the birth of a girl child is still not welcomed in many parts of the country. It is said that in India, a girl is discriminated against right from womb to tomb. There are chances she may face neglect when it comes to her health, well-being, education, and opportunities, due to her gender. Since its National Girl  Child Day is celebrated in India on January 24, a day dedicated to conversations about the upliftment of the girl child. She said the facts exist in the society related to a girl child as we are residing in a patriarchal society, biases against the girl child, etc. still exist in the society. It is time to look out what are the reasons behind all this type of discrimination against the girls. She told about various legal rights which are only for girls or we can say that is for the protection of girls such as the right against the female feticide, to control this evil we
are having legislation known as “Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic  Techniques”. It is an Act that was enacted to stop the killing of female fetuses. The  Act is having strict prohibitive provisions related to sex determination, or we can say that sex determination is strictly prohibited/banned by the Act. If someone either the doctor or the medical staff will conduct any test to identify the sex of the fetus he shall be punished. For this, she quoted a case decided by the Supreme  Court of India known as Sehat v. Union of India in which the Supreme Court issued the guidelines. The right to education is enshrined in Article 21-A Constitution of  India. Further, she talked about the right to be raised in a safe environment and healthy environment. The next right which was explained by her that was right against the abusive family members or the girl child is having the right to raise her voice

against those family members who molest/ harassed her. She also explained various other rights related to girl children like the right to inherit property, the right against child marriage, and the right against sexual harassment at the workplace. Further, she told that it is a time to initiate a revolution from the side of the educated mass to save the girl child.
Thereafter Mrs. Avi Choudhary (Lecturer) Faculty of Law, SVSU, Meerut told that as a nation, our past is rife with gender inequality but aiming to rectify that situation; the Government is taking steps to empower, educate and uplift the girl child. The Central and State governments introduced various policies and schemes that are targeted at improving the lives of girl children in India.
In which she told the Schemes by the Central Government as Beti Bachao, Beti  Padhao launched with initial funding of   100 crores the scheme aims to address the issue of the declining child sex ratio image (CSR) and is a national initiative run jointly by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of  Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Human Resource Development.  Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna is part of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign,  this Government of India-backed saving scheme is targeted at the parents of girl children. The program encourages them to build a fund for future education and marriage expenses for their female child. Parents can start saving early as the minimum amount of investment required is small, and the account is active for 14  years from the date of opening the account. Balika Samridhi Yojna this scheme was launched by the Government of India on 15th August 1997 and covered all girls born on or after 15 August 1997 who are below the poverty line. Aimed at offering financial aid to girl children born on or after 15 August 1997, the scheme’s key objectives include improving the enrolment and retention of the girl child in

schools and helping raise daughters until their legal age of marriage. If successful,  young girls will get an education that will help them with jobs to generate a steady income. CBSE Scholarship Scheme/Policy for Girl Education This central government scheme is available at Government CBSE schools only. It is applicable for one girl child per family across India and aims to supplement the school tuition fee. Apart from the central government, the Indian State governments also actively offer several schemes that benefit girl children. Some of these are Rajshri Yojna – Rajasthan, Girl child protection scheme – Andhra  Pradesh, Sivagami Ammaiyar Memorial girl child protection scheme – Tamil  Nadu, Ladli Laxmi Yojana – Madhya Pradesh, Ladli – Delhi & Haryana,  Mukhyamantri Laadli Yojna – Uttar Pradesh, Mukhyamantri Kanya Suraksha  Yojna – Bihar, Ladli scheme – Haryana, Kishori Shakti Yojana – Odisha,  MAMTA scheme for girl
child – Goa, Saraswati Bicycle Scheme – Chhattisgarh., West Bengal Kanyashree  Prakalpa – West Bengal, Bhagyalaxmi scheme – Karnataka While many of these programs tackle the issue of savings and education, some like the Kishori Shakti  Yojana also aim to educate adolescent girls about the importance of health care.  Adolescent girls get access to current and updated healthcare initiatives and learn about good hygiene. As future mothers, knowing about 13 life-saving vaccines that the government provides free of cost and the importance of MMR,  Polio, and similar vaccination is integral to their health and reducing child mortality through vaccine-preventable diseases in the future.
Thereafter Ms. Anju Kamboj, Secretary District Legal Service Authority,  Meerut told about the girl child education and quoted the words of Michel Obama  “When a girl is educated the nation is educated”. Apart from it she also
describe various legislations related to girls like POCSO, Domestic  Violence(Prohibition), Dowry Prohibition Act, etc, she concluded her words with these lines “Beti bahar nahi, Hai Jeewan Aadhar”.She congratulated the entire team of Subharti Law College, SVSU Meerut for organizing an event.
Thereafter Hon’ble Justice (Retd.) Rajesh Chandra Director, Faculty of Law, SVSU, Meerut, addressed in his concluding remark that it is time to change the mindset of the society. The mindset of the society can be changed by organizing the various legal aid camps through which we can spread awareness among the mass. Further, he said that she must be given the right to raise her voice against the things or the acts which are unpleasant for her. She is free to say ‘no’. She must be promised from the side of her parents, especially from the side of her father or brother, that she is free to tell them anything which makes her uneasy. And it is the duty of the family to take care of her health, nutrition, and education. She must also be aware of how to tackle strangers. Not only this, but it is also the duty of the family to educate her about how to access the internet, or while using the internet she has to take precautions from strangers. Further, he explained various provisions given in the Indian penal Code, 1860 like section 354 which talked about the modesty of women.  He concluded his address with these lines, “Suno Samundar ki Shokh Lahren,  Hawwayen Tahri Hain Tum Bhi Tahro, Wo Dor Sahil Par Ek Bachha Abhi  Gharaunda Banaa Rahaa Hai.”
At the end of the program, a vote of thanks has been paid by Mr. Vikas Tyagi  Assistant Professor. He paid his thanks to the Maj. Gen. (Dr.) G.K. Thapliyal  Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, SVS University under whom guidance and permission  this event took its place, Prof(Dr.) Shalya Raj Madam, Chief Executive officer of  Swami Vivekanand Subharti University under whom supervision University is
growing continuously, Ms. Anju Kamboj, Secretary District Legal Service  Authority, Meerut, Hon’ble Justice (Retd.) Rajesh Chandra Director, Faculty of  Law. Further, he gave the vote of thanks to Prof. (Dr.) Vaibhav Goel Bhartiya, Dean,  Faculty of Law, SVSU in whom directions the event took place, then he pay thanks to Dr. Reena Bishnoi (Associate Professor) Member ICC, SVSU, who told very important and meaningful provisions related to girl child rights. Further, he paid his  gratitude to Mrs. Avi Chaudhary Lecturer) Faculty of Law, SVSU, Meerut for various beneficial schemes for girls. Then he paid thanks to Dr.  Sarika Tyagi, (Associate Professor, Faculty of Law), master of ceremony for the conduction of this important and beneficial awareness program for girls. Last, not least thanks were paid by him to Mr. Vishal & his team  (Marcom Department, SVSU) for the effective and meaningful technical
support for the effective broadcasting of this program on Youtube and Facebook through Streamyard.