The 24th of January will be celebrated as the National Girl Child Day 2022 in India, by the Government of India, since 2008.
National Girl Child Day Objective:
The purpose behind celebrating this day is to
- provide all support and opportunities to the girls of the country.
- promote awareness about the rights of the girl child and
- increase awareness on the importance of girls’ education, and their health and nutrition.
National Girl Child Day History:
It was the year 2008 when the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Indian Government decided it commemorate this day. It was on 24th January 1966 then Indira Gandhi was sworn in as the first female Prime Minister of India. Thus, 24th January was identified as the day of honoring the empowerment of women.
Remember Incredible Woman Freedom Fighters on National Girl Child Day 2022
Let’s take this opportunity to remember two of the most incredible woman freedom fighters who not only helped in India’s freedom struggle but also had the courage and commitment to bring a change in society.
Rani Laxmibai
- She was the queen of the Maratha princely state of Jhansi, and we know her as “Jhansi Ki Rani”. Born in 1828 in Kashi as “Manikarnika”. She was the only child of her parents. At the age of only 12 she was married to the King of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rao.
- Do you remember the famous poem “खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वह तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी”. Click here to listen to the complete poem.
Capt Laxmi Sehgal
- She was born on 24th October 1914 in Madras (now Chennai) to a family of a lawyer and social activists.
- After doing her MBBS in 1938 from Madras Medical College, she got involved in the freedom movement. She along with Shubhash Chandra Bose helped to form the first all-women regiment of Netaji’s Indian National Army and also commanded it. Click here to know more about her.
Indian Government Initiative:
The Indian Government has from time to time taken various initiatives to improve the Girl’s position in our child. Various ministries of the Government of India like Ministries of Education, Sports, Skill Development, and the Department of Science and Technology have undertaken various initiatives and programmes for the progress and empowerment of the girls.
‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture, and achievements. As part of the celebrations, the Ministry of Culture is organizing a rangoli-making event ‘Umang Rangoli Utsav’ on 24th January 2022. The day is celebrated as ‘National Girl Child Day’ every year and to commemorate the day this year, a nationwide event celebrating the Girl Child is being organized under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.
In the event, it is proposed that the participating teams will make Rangoli decorations for about one kilometer of length on the roads and squares that have been named after the female freedom fighters or the female role models of the country. The rangoli decorations are being done at more than 50 locations across the country. It will be a great opportunity to celebrate the ‘Girl Child Day’ and ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ through this event.
Under the Samagra Shiksha, many initiatives were taken to ensure the greater participation of girls in education. For example
- Opening of schools in the neighborhood as defined by the State,
- Provision of free textbooks to girls up to Class VIII,
- Uniforms to all girls, SC, ST children, and Below Poverty Line (BPL) children up to class VIII,
- Provision of gender-segregated toilets in all schools,
- Teachers’ sensitization programs to promote girls’ participation,
- Provision for Self-Defence training for the girls from classes VI to XII,
- Stipend to CWSN girls from class I to Class XII,
- Residential Schools/Hostels,
- Construction of residential quarters for teachers in remote/hilly areas/in areas with difficult terrain.
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