Jammu & Kashmir State Commission for Protection of Women and Child Rights (JKSCPWCR) in collaboration with Government Degree College Majalta, organized an awareness programme on ‘International Day of the Girl Child’ at Government Degree College Majalta, Udhampur today.Chairperson JKSCPWCR, Vasundhara Pathak Masoodi, while addressing on the occasion as chief guest, advocated that gender inequality and disparity must be done away with in every strata of society and stringent laws be enacted to penalize those who discriminate on the basis of gender. She said that efforts would be made to constitute Child Protection Committees in every educational and childcare institution to protect and propagate the rights of children especially girls. She stressed the need for evolving an appropriate mechanism to punish the guilty in cases of violence and atrocities against girls.The Chairperson said that education of girl children should be promoted at all levels which is the only tool to save girls from all kinds of exploitation and violence besides ensuring their empowerment. “An empowered girl is the most valuable asset for an empowered society”, she observed.Elucidating several women oriented government schemes envisaging their socio-economic emancipation, the Chairperson made a mention of several schemes like ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign, Sukanya Samridhi Yojna etc.
She emphasized optimum utilization of these programmes for promoting interests of girls in the society.She urged all the stakeholders to help towards containing certain social evils being committed against the females like female feticide, early child marriage, sexual violence, domestic violence and related atrocities.Throwing light on the history of the day, Secretary, J&K SCPWCR, Lal Chand, said that the objective behind organizing this event on the day was to promote girls’ empowerment besides highlighting the challenges that the women face.Secretary said that various organizations at the international and national level are working for further advancement of girls in the field of education besides endeavoring to deal with issues affecting the welfare and development of girl child. He hoped that such events would further help in taking the government initiatives of promoting the interests of female fraternity to a logical conclusion.Principal of the College, Kusum Gupta, Prof. C. L. Shivgotra and other speakers highlighted the significance of the Day and appealed all to work for the welfare and empowerment of girls which is imperative for raising a flourishing society. Prof.Mool Raj presented vote of thanks.Later, Chairperson and other dignitaries distributed Mementoes among the speakers.Among others, faculty and large number of students attended the programme.