IT News
Imphal, June 24:
Child Rights and You (CRY) has launched a nationwide campaign, “Poori Padhai, Desh Ki Bhalai,” across 20 states to promote and ensure the completion of education for girls. Starting today, the initiative aims to address the urgent need for girls to complete their education, tackle dropout rates, and highlight improvements in school enrolment, infrastructure, and access to education.
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009, which marked its 15th anniversary in April, aimed to provide universal education up to age 14. However, many girls still lack access to secondary and higher secondary education. The National Education Policy 2020 extends this goal to age 18, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Goal-4) for equitable education by 2030.
The latest Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE+) 21-22 data shows that only three out of every five girls in India reach higher secondary education. Despite significant improvements in enrolment and infrastructure, socio-economic challenges, cultural norms, early marriages, inadequate facilities, and safety concerns continue to impede girls’ education. These issues increase dropout rates and make girls more vulnerable to child labor, underage marriage, teenage pregnancy, and exploitation.
CRY’s CEO, Puja Marwaha, stressed the necessity of higher secondary education for girls, calling it crucial for their empowerment and national development. She highlighted the need for targeted interventions, including adequate public funding, financial incentives, improved infrastructure, community engagement, and strong enforcement of laws against child marriage. Marwaha emphasized the importance of generating mass awareness and social resonance around girls’ education.
The “Poori Padhai, Desh Ki Bhalai” campaign aims to create awareness about the importance of girls’ education and involve stakeholders, including families, educators, community members, authorities, students, media, and corporates. The campaign will run until August 15, 2024, symbolizing the freedom and empowerment that education brings to girls.
