'Ensure free education for girls'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 23 2020:
Considering the immense hardships being faced by economically backward families owing to COVID-19 crisis, the Ningol Club, Heirok has appealed to the State Government to ensure free education for girls right from primary level to higher education level in Universities.
After imposing months of lockdown due to COVID-19, many families have been pushed to the edge and as such these families are facing a hard time in ensuring education for their wards.
Even if the parents managed to gather everything for admission, it is evident that girls have lower chances than boys in getting admission for studies, the Ningol Club said in a statement.
To ensure girls get the same opportunity and to translate the objective of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) to action, the State Government should come out with legislation to help the girls get free education till Master degree courses.
The gender-based discrimination which continues to exist till date can be eradicated only if the BBBP which aims at protecting and educating girl child, is fully endorsed, it said.
If the Government cannot curb discrimination against girls, then the announcements of schemes for the welfare of women and girls will remain a mere lip service with hollow intent, the club said while stressing on the importance of giving equal opportunities to women in ensuring a developed and egalitarian society.
Only education can empower girls to reduce gender-based discrimination, it continued.
Cases of girls dropping out due to financial issues are quite a common issue, the statement said and urged the State Government to come out with a policy to assist girls in getting admission and to provide other possible assistance for their studies.