World Girls Day
Capuchin Krishik Seva Kendra (R) (CKSK) organized the World Girls Day program in St. Thomas college ground at Belthangady on 22nd December 2014. This program is organized to empower the girl children to build their self confidence and self esteem to deal with the actual problems like sexual harassment, family ill treatment, discrimination at various places, and deprivation from education, child marriage, early marriage etc. Secondly to create general awareness and sensitization to overcome the disparity between men and women that exists in the society.

The program started with the prayer dance led by the students of St. Thomas Collage, Halekote. Ms. Lavina, the Accountant of Vimukti Federation welcomed all the guests and the gathering to the program and introduced them.

Fr. Vinod the Director of CKSK introduced the resource person of the day Ms.Shubhadas Maravanthe. He said that it is our great privilege to have such a great learned, social thinker amidst us. We are really lucky to have her to this program. We have chosen her to be the resource person for the program; she in spite of her busy schedule and ill health has consented to be present over here to inspire the young youths of our Taluka. We need woman like Dr. Shubhadas Maravanthe who has contributed a lot to women and children issues and their rights. He called the attention of all the gathered youths to here Dr. Shubhadas attentively and try each ones level best to create girl- women friendly atmosphere in the Taluka. The Director honored four women who contributed selflessly to the women and child rights such as Ms. Jyothi in the health field, Ms. Chandrakanthi as an ASHA worker, Ms. Rukmini and Lakshmi as Anganavady workers. They are presented with memento and garland.

The resource person Dr. Shubhadas Maravanthe took over the session and she attracted all the youths with her flowery language and beautiful presentation. She spoke at length on various issues that concern the women most. She highlighted the issues such as girl child harassment in the school, family, in the society and in travelling places. She also enlightened the young girls with various suggestions and ideas to overcome all these kind of atrocities, harassments that taking place at various places. She also spoke on various superstitious beliefs such as women non entry to the worship places especially during the menstruation, honor killing, fetus infanticide, kidnapping, adverse effects of medias on the youths etc. It’s very sad that in many places people try hard to hide young girls and women from actual situations and thus the society and the very system makes young girls and women most vulnerable. She said that woman is presented and worshiped along with the various goddesses such as Chandi Chamundeshwari, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi with trishools and swords, money is named after Godess Lakshmi and education is named after Godess Saraswathi but at present women are in the kitchen with ladle. This is the worst condition of a girl and a woman in the society. Whatever the colorful and glorious presentation of women that we have is only on the papers. She also presented various incidents that took place in the various parts of Karnataka and in India. She said in her presentation no men folk has right to decide upon how a girl or woman should behave or dress in the public places as women folk never interfere with all that is manly. Women are always targeted due to the some hidden interest of the some anti social groups. Then the Director of CKSK called upon gathered youths to raise various questions. The youth especially young girls raised issues on superstitious beliefs, family atrocities, harassment in the schools and in the colleges. Dr. Shubhadas gave suitable solutions and suggestions to their queries. There were some of the self Help Group members of Vimukti who raised the issues concerned with the parents and all felt parents need to be educated how to give protection and support their young girls.

The Punjalkatte College student sang beautiful vigilant songs. The director, Fr, Vinod summarized the whole day’s discussion and called upon all the gathered young youths to continue to fight for women’s rights and raise voice ever strongly against injustice. Then on behalf of all gathered young girls Ms. Sowma of Punjalkatte College presented the memorandum to the honorable Zilla Panchayath member Ms. Chandrakala. The memorandum highlighted various safety and protection measures to be taken by the government to safeguard girl’s rights.

Ms. Neena gave vote of thanks. Ms Merin managed the MC of the program. There were various youths from colleges such as Gurudeva, St. Theresa, St Thomas, Punjalkatte College, Melanthabettu participated in the program.