Let real life role models interact with girls

The Centre’s ‘Beti bachao, beti padhao’ scheme is a progressive one as it is aimed at uplifting the girl child. Recently, a health centre was launched under this scheme in Hoshiarpur. The inauguration programme was held at a government school near my work place.

The decorated school building, with a colourful shamiyana erected in the premises, could be seen from my hospital. In the last few days, the school bus abuzz with preparations and cleanliness drive for the event that was to be attended by the deputy commissioner.

When I reached the venue on the day of the inauguration, the preparations appeared perfect. Courteous schoolchildren were welcoming guests and guiding them to have snacks and tea before proceeding to the venue. School staff and local officials associated with the scheme’s implementation were waiting at the gates for the chief guest’s arrival. Some cops were also deputed at the venue.

I too joined the line of people waiting to exchange pleasantries with the DC. He arrived devoid of any fanfare and following brief introduction and exchanging pleasantries, we all proceeded to the stage.

Since this was an official function, the proceedings and speeches were well rehearsed. The talks on the importance of the girl child were routine and I was getting bored.

I thought I should also share my experience with the students. After all, the event was aimed at uplifting the girl child and making them aware about the sea of opportunities that they can exploit.

I then approached the lady on the dias who was conducting the event and told her that i want to speak. She directed me to the school principal, who told me that proceedings of an official function are preplanned and that I should give my name for consideration to be invited to deliver speech at future events.

I was dumbfounded but I mustered courage and approached the DC. Fortunately he agreed and conveyed the same to the lady on the dias. In my short speech I told the students about the importance of education and having a fulfilling career along with managing a family.

In the course of his speech the DC asked the students how many of them want to take up a job? Almost all of them raised their hands amid applause from the audience.

Recalling past years, he said hardly any girl student would have expressed her desire to work, had the question been asked some decades ago. He added that the scheme is aimed at furthering this change.

He also praised every student who performed on the stage and also interacted with them personally. When a young girl said her name is Deepika, he jokingly asked if she not ‘Padukone’ as well (a reference to Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone).

Of all those who spoke on the dias, it was the DC who stole the show with his affable mannerism and out of the box ideas to encourage girls. While distributing the prizes, he not only smiled for photo ops, but also enquired about their family background.

In a nutshell, the event became far more engaging and enriching for the students because it was not conducted in a scripted and well orchestrated sarkari manner.

For me, the success of ‘Beti bachao, beti padhao’ does not lie in the speeches and lectures on women empowerment. The essence rather is in helping the girls to come out of the cocoons they have been enveloped by the society for centuries.

Awareness and empowerment comes when they interact with real life role models, listen stories of women who overcame the societal hindrances and rose above the mundane.

Even if some among those who attended the event choose to complete their education and are determined to achieve their goals, the scheme will be a success. In future, they can become role models for many others. Besides this, at the end I had another reason to smile when the DC instructed his officials to include me in future programmes under the scheme.

IN A NUTSHELL, THE EVENT BECAME FAR MORE ENGAGING AND ENRICHING FOR THE STUDENTS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT CONDUCTED IN A SCRIPTED AND WELL ORCHESTRATED SARKARI MANNER