Poori Padhai Desh Ki Bhalai Campaign Lights the Way for Girls’ Empowerment

CRY – Child Rights and You recently celebrated the success of its flagship campaign, Poori Padhai Desh Ki Bhalai, through a vibrant event aboard the Ganga cruise vessel Rivera. The program, titled Sail to EmpowHER, highlighted the transformative power of education for girls, ahead of National Girl Child Day on January 24.

In a symbolic gesture of hope and empowerment, the iconic Howrah Bridge lit up in an orangish-red hue. The lighting served as a beacon for millions of young girls striving to overcome adversities and pursue their dreams through education.

CRY’s Regional Director (East), Trina Chakrabarti, welcomed the audience with an inspiring recital of Kamla Bhasin’s Main Ladki Hoon, celebrating the resilience and courage of young girls who conquer adversity.

The event brought together over 200 participants, including children from CRY project areas, donors, volunteers, and stakeholders. The Guest of Honour, British Deputy High Commissioner Sir Andrew Fleming, applauded the efforts of the organization and emphasized the importance of creating an enabling environment for girls to excel.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Samrat Rahi, Deputy Chairperson of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust, underscored the pivotal role of education for girls, not only for individual empowerment but also for national progress. “Awareness campaigns like Poori Padhai Desh Ki Bhalai play a crucial role in ensuring that every girl has access to education,” he said.

The two-hour event featured a dynamic mix of programs, including a chat show titled Baaton Baaton Mein, which highlighted inspiring stories from individuals advocating for girls’ education. CRY volunteer Falak Ishrat shared her personal journey, emphasizing education as the foundation for empowerment. Other panelists included Tushar Bag, Senior Transport Planner at Jacobs, who highlighted the need for better infrastructure and teacher training in rural areas, and Neepa Saha Sharma, General Manager of CSR at CESE, who called for coordinated action to bridge the gender divide.

A powerful dance production, Khorosrota – A Girl Unplugged, was performed by Dancers’ Guild and the School of Women’s Studies, Jadavpur University. The performance depicted a girl’s journey from despair to empowerment, brought to life through evocative choreography.

On the sidelines, eminent artist Biman Das conducted a workshop on girls’ education and climate change for the children. A simulation activity allowed participants to experience the challenges young girls face, including balancing household responsibilities, societal pressures, and unsafe commutes to school.

Launched in June 2023, the campaign has significantly impacted girls’ education across India. Key accomplishments include enrolling 1,90,060 girls in schools through mass enrollment drives across 5,093 villages and slums, gaining pledges of support from 886 gram panchayats to ensure girls’ education, and felicitating schools and villages that achieved 100% enrollment and transition rates.

We collected over 2,07,906 signatures nationwide, reinforcing the collective commitment to ensure every girl has access to education,” said Trina Chakrabarti.

The Sail to EmpowHER program not only celebrated these achievements but also reaffirmed CRY’s commitment to creating a brighter, more equitable future for India’s girls.

 

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