Ladki padhao, desh badhao

Times have changed. For the better. From a scenario when getting a boy educated was the norm, now many families are ensuring that the girl child is getting equal opportunities to study. Having said that, there are still many girls unable to study due lack of financial stability or families that do not feel they should study. This has also led to many girls dropping out. In order to educate the girl child,  Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently said that education for girls will be made free from primary level upto post-graduation. This initiative will be implemented from April 1. A ray of hope for girls to obtain the education they deserve, surely? We explore.

Many low income families tend to spend money only on a boy’s education. This mentality needs to change to improve conditions. City-based professional Anusha Murali feels, “A lot of girls drop out of school due to lack of finances. This new proposal will help those families with a lower annual income but can still afford to let their girls study and follow their dreams. It will benefit every girl who wishes to study. I think this proposal will help solve the problem where a girl child is not given an opportunity to study.”  

Women empowerment has been a hot topic of discussion now and what better way to empower women than educating them?  Richa Sinha, a medical student says, “It’s great that the government has taken this initiative to educate girls. There are many people in the city who for various reasons are unable to send their daughters to school. This initiative will help them educate their children, and ensure that they make a future for themselves. Women can motivate anyone and only when she is educated can she motivate other people to study too.”

From looking at a girl’s education as a burden to empowering them, chartered accountant Amit Jaiswal adds, “Education is a fundamental right and it should be made available for free. Acts like this have been passed in the past but not many girls have reaped the benefit. I think that in order for girls to get the education they deserve, the mentality of the people, especially in rural areas needs to change. Those that do not value education and just treat it merely as an extra expense and burden. In order for this initiative to work, the government must conduct regular surveys to ensure each girl is getting proper education.”

Sociologist Swati Mitra delves deeper, “Earlier, fees for girls were less compared to boys. This initiative will encourage the girl child from lower rung families to get quality education. I also think that the girl child, along with her education, needs to be taught a few life skills for employment. The dropout rates are still high even though a number of incentives are provided to them. These vocational skills will not only get them employment, but also help them gain a social standing in society even when they get married. Then it will be a socio-economic impact.”