With the attention of the entire state focussed on Siddaramaiah’s budget, The UN-sponsored ‘Malala Day’ meant for empowerment of girl education went uncelebrated, even by women and children organisations.
The only event branded after Malala Yousufzai, the teen from Pakistan who emerged as the icon for girl child education after being shot by the Taliban, to be celebrated in the region was by the child welfare committee of Gadag, at a government high school of the city.
Speaking with dna, district child protection officer Bharati Shettar said she has planned the event in advance and got it approved by the department. She observed that the significance day could be utilised to check social evils such as early marriage, child labour and gender discrimination.
“The day can even be converted into a platform to campaign acts like POCSO that protect interests of children. As Malala drew global attention after being shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating girls’ education in Pakistan, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has given a call to all nations to commemorate July 12, her birth day. Malala, who turned 16 on Friday, is now the global symbol for girls’ education in whole world.”
Nagma Shaikh, state convener of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, said the observance of the day should be made mandatory in the state and nation as well.
“If we try to educate or motivate children by the living example of Malala, they will be more attentive and even parents could be made aware on girl education,” she said.
Padmalatha Ravi, a documentary film maker on gender sensitivity issues, said: “Considering the bravery and of that tiny girl, the day should be celebrated throughout the nation and world of course. But it should not be politicised any way,” she said.
Advocate and columnist Anjali Ramanna said that as Malala’s way was revolutionary, it may not be significant in India, where there was no necessity of revolutionary way to promote girls’ education among parents. “Moreover, we already have a number of celebratory days,” she said.
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