On the eve of Women's Day, special session of adolescents girls, raised issues and challenges they face and heard power stories of change as they were also responded to their questions.
The session was organised by Child Rights Observatory in partnership with UNICEF. Speaking at session, Riya from Jhabua, Radhika from BHopal, Brijkunwar Panchal, from Datia, Simran Patidar from Khandwa, Vidhi Samle from Hoshangabad, Astha Sharma from Rewa and others spoke on the challenges of education, growing violence among girls, and the how to go about challenge with parents and relatives when girls are stopped to live their dreams.
Nirnala Buch, President child rights observatory, spoke that Women;s Day is marked to celebrate the progress and achievements of women and is also is call to action for accelerating gender parity and challenges women face across the globe. She spoke of her journey of her career and her work for progress and her career and standing up for rights of girls, women, She was the first women Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh at times when women participation was not so high.
Dipa Prakash, Director Omega Bearings Pvt Ltd, spoke of her journey of life when she started as an engineer, working in public sector undertaking and then setting up her business which supplies bearings across the world and has around 140 employees. She did share the challeges she faced as a women and how she steadfastly held her to her dreams and inspred girls.
Margaret Gwada, Chief, UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh Margaret Gwada, Chief, UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh speaking at the meet said that there is a challenge of growing violence on adolescent girls and learning crisis caused by the COVID19 pandemic.
‘We need to work together to address these challenges: by focusing more attention on the key issues and taking concrete steps to address them’. She added that stakeholders in the state need to create platforms for adolescents to share their stories and views, which need to be taken into consideration when decisions are being taken for the adolescents”. She also shared with the adolescent girls present, her personal stories of challenges and struggles she has gone through as a women.
Seema Alawa, Additional Superiendent of Police, Khandwa spoke about the steps being taken by the State of Madhya Pradesh to respond to the challenge of violence among children and also the change which had happened. She said that things will get difficult, but important to steps towards your goal, and work with it.
She also shared her story of joinng the police and efforts being done by the State Police.
Caroline Sudan, Programming Head of Radio Mirchi (MP, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat) spoke that things are getting positive for girls and women, with more opportunities coming up. She said that we all face challenges but important is that we speak out, say no to violence and newer challenges we see. She shared her story of her career.
Sukriti, RJ of Bhopal had joined in the meet along with around 80 adolescents, from across Madhya Pradesh. Anil Gulati, Communication Specialist, UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh facilitated the interaction.