GIRL EDUCATION (VISHWA NATH SOOD- ex secretary, SSS)

Is it not strange that whatever may be the field (barring kitchen), females are HARD TO SPOT? This is because we had been showing neglect towards this gender in all involvements including education since many centuries. This BARBARIC discrimination has to be removed.

Education is a BASIC human right. Education must be available for, accessible to and inclusive of all children. Education needs to be child centered, relevant and embrace a broad curriculum AND be appropriately resourced and MONITORED. Educational environment must be provided in a way that is consistent with human rights, equal respect for culture, religion and free from all forms of VIOLENCE. The right to respect within learning centre is also a foremost right.

UNLIMITED INK AND ENDLESS PAPER IS NEEDED for achievement of this goal.

Our nation has started feeling highly perturbed about the declining ratio of male- female which is about 92 females for every 100 males. The scale can only be tilted to equality by providing education to females. We have put ourselves to further shame by enrolling only about 42 % of girls in schools so far. This alarming situation has to be dealt with on war footing. No society can be allowed to sit quietly and watch this ugly scene.

Girl education shall produce wonderful results. It is bound to result in lower infant mortality as well as turn towards decline in rate of population growth. A nation with increased number of educated females will conveniently have eventual increased wages. When you educate a girl, you educate the next generation. Girl education is a good and farsighted national investment. Is it not? This is also bound to improve family health and result in economic development.

Although our community and Sood Sabha Shimla has, in the past, done its bit for this purpose but there is still a lot of scope and many things can be done in this field by initiating new schemes and implementing a few ideas. This can be conveniently done well within available resources. The first and foremost REQIREMENT has to be ZEAL within the persons who are at the helm of affairs. We cannot absolve ourselves and shy away from this responsibility by pretending that this field of activity is the responsibility of the government. How much can we expect from our authorities who have burdened themselves by sorting and loading upon themselves wrong priorities? We cannot remain silent spectators to the impending danger which is bound to result as ruining and unacceptable aftermath of neglecting girls in field of education. If the government is not keen or sleeping over this matter by not inviting people to participate in this pious progamme, it becomes ALL THE MORE our moral duty to rush forward by initiating the first step in this direction.

Sood Sabha Shimla has been doing a lot for the people of its town for the last almost half century and won much applause and laurels for number of its charitable and public welfare activities. Sabha must also indulge in a virtuous and religious cause of GIRL EDUCATION. Sabha has been talking, since long, about running some educational institute. Somehow, this goal has always eluded Sood Sabha. May be, there was some problem with authorities, non-availability of suitable site and many other impediments. If this important dream is still at a distant sight, why not start by making a few small beginnings?

We can continue with our already existing planning and at the same time indulge in additional activities in this direction. Say, resorting to sponsorship of some female children in the field of education and in sports or other activity as well. Admittedly, government still lacks a solid infrastructure for promotion of education. Even contribution of single ‘brick’ to this structure shall strengthen it considerably. We can seriously put our heads together and come out with some idea of our voluntary involvement, to be passed across to our government authorities for improvement of educational environment and standard, EVEN in some government owned institution. This way, there are likely to be chances of fulfilling the dream of achieving the goal of running an educational institute. There is another opening available which we have not been able to see. Perhaps the age old adage goes true in this case. It is said, “Nearer to church, farther from heaven”. We have ample covered space available on the terrace of Ram Mandir market, which is lying unutilized since the year 2005. Our above said ‘small beginning’ can be made at this spot. People from Shimla are running to all parts of the country to get so called “COACHING” for entry to professional colleges and have to pay through their nose to such centers which are growing like mushrooms. Our charitable institute can contribute its bit by helping some of the needy GIRLS if some HIGH STANDARD coaching is provided by deputing well qualified tutors. It must be run on NO PROFIT basis. Sabha can conveniently incur additional expenditure of a fraction of its funds for the betterment of GIRL EDUCATION.