From child marriages to denial of education, girls from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are braving it all. At a convention organised in the city, 350 of them vowed to take control of their future and life.
Among the girls who had came to the city from Ranga Reddy, Vikarabad, Suryapet, Jogulamba Gadwal and Nagarkurnool in Telangana and Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh was Uma, a 12-year-old from Atmakur mandal in Warangal district, who said she had seen many under-aged girls being married off. “Girls should be encouraged to study and earn a living,” she said, as others agreed with Uma in cheers.
The girls who reached the city had deliberated upon their problems for one day before they held the public meet. A lot many of them were ground-level workers who mobilised neighbours to battle gender discrimination. The meeting was organised by M. Venkatarangayya Foundation.
The girl troopers told the audience that they want government colleges in each of the mandals in a district to put an end to drop-out rate. In a written petition they also asked for the amendment of Child Marriage Prevention Act. According to the act, performed child marriages are legal contracts that have to be nullified by due process later. The students who assembled in Hyderabad asked for statutory nullification of such marriages. The girls also asked Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments to provide them free education till post graduation.
Compulsory education
Shantha Sinha , former Chairperson National Commission for Protection of Child Rights(NJCPCR) who was present at the meet stated that existing laws must be modified and a new law must be framed for providing free and compulsory education to all children till their graduation or any desired level of education.
“The examination systems must be reviewed and revised so that all children are facilitated to pass class 10 successfully” she added. Ms. Sinha also said, the girls are capable of changing the existing systems through their grit, determination and unified struggle. The meeting was also attended by Stitching Charities Fund Rijsholt, a Netherlands based organisation for girls.
Baladeer Gaddar who attended the meeting said nature, system and hierarchical structure of villages have denied education to many castes and communities. And those who have suffered the most are women.
“Girls should become self reliant and stand on their own feet before going for marriage. Girls and women issues need representation in all the assemblies and parliaments,” he added.