How girls of today can become the women of tomorrow

However,that was not a cake-walk for a girl hailing from the remote Sarairanjan block, Samastipur district in Bihar.

As she started growing up, she realised that her dreams were marred by poverty. 

Her father, adamant as he was about getting her married off as she turned 16, used all possible ways including beating her black and blue so that the young girl agrees to get married. 

Most of her neighbours echoed the patriarch and mocked at Abha’sdecision to study and join the police force.

Fortunately, support came from an unexpected quarter, as the members of JawaharJyoti Baal Vikas Kendra (JJBVK), a local grass roots level organisation supported by Child Rights and You (CRY) stood by her, spoke to her father till he relented and agreed to let her daughter continue with her study. Abha’sindomitable spirit laughed at the last, as she managed to sit for the matriculation exams.

Fast forward five years… Abha is currently serving as a constable in Bihar police cadre, posted in Purnea district. Today, she has not just achieved her dream of donning the police uniform and insignia, but has also become a role model for girls and parents in her village. People who once mocked at her now ask their daughters to tread on Abhadidi’s path and become like her.

But, Abha is not alone. There are many others, often not as lucky as her, whose dreams of overcoming obstacles and becoming the ‘women of tomorrow’ are nipped in the bud. They eventually dropout of school, married off before they are ready to bear the burden of a family, exposed to multiple vulnerabilities and increased risk of bearing children – thus unknowingly propagating the intergenerational cycle of poverty and malnutrition, with a cascading effect not just on their lives but also impacting the forthcoming generations.

While the latest NFHS-5 report indicates at a marginal reduction in the percentage of women within 20 to 24 years getting married before they turned 18 (from 26.8 percent in 2015-16 to 23.8 percent in 2019-2021); the current NCRB report (Crimes in India 2020) reveals that cases registered under Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 saw an annual increase of nearly 50 percent from 525 in 2019 to 785 in 2020. CRY’s analysis of past 5 years’ NCRB data shows a worrying 167.92 percent increase (from 293 cases in 2015 to 785 in 2020) of Child Marriage, as reported across the country.

To encourage more girls to break barriers and scale newer heights,Child Rights and You (CRY) conducted awebinar on ‘Rising Against All Odds – Celebrating Our Women of Tomorrow’, as a run-up to the 2022 International Women’s Day. The platform brought together young girls and women leaders from different backgrounds – to share their path breaking journeys and inspire girls to become the role models of tomorrow.

On the occasion, Puja Marwaha, CEO, CRY said, “Creating awareness among girls of the existing societal norms, and supporting them to change the narrative by growing to their full potential is something that CRY holds very close to its heart. It is crucial that young girls set goals and stubbornly pursue them, no matter come what may. We are sure, their grit and resilience will go a long way in inspiring many others to follow suit and break age-old barriers.”

Underscoring the objective of the webinar, Puja said, “It’s time we create a platform for girls of tomorrow and women of today to come together and share stories of breaking stereotypes each in their own way and driving the change.”

An enthusiastic bunch of underprivileged young girls including AbhaKumariand others whose struggle aptly defining who they are today–Sheetal from Delhi; Bandaru Ganga Bhavani from Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh; and VedikaParmeshwarUgile from Latur, Maharashtra shared their powerful stories of breaking societal barriers and  emerging victorious with other panellists and audience.

AbhaKumari said, “I just pray that what I have seen and been through, no other girls should face the same. The hardships and battles that I fought to achieve my dream to study further and become a police officer, I really wish other girls do not face the same.”

Vedika, an adolescent girl from Latur,narrated how they had voiced their demand of having a playground for the girls and made the local panchayat finally agree to their demand.

“We went straight to the village Sarpanch and requested him to asked, why would only the boys have a playground and girls won’t be allowed to play in the open, in an age when women have landed on the moon?” said the 15 year-old Vedika, beaming with a smile of confidence. To cut the long story short, they came victorious and now have a separate playground for them where they go and play in a safe environment.

Besides the participation of young girls from different corners of India, renowned women icons including Actor MaanviGagroo; and Kena Shree, Author, Poet and Storyteller also participated in the online event. Narrating their own life stories of breaking stereotypes, the women leaders interacted with the young girls and shared key learnings and experiences in overcoming societal and personal challenges, to emerge as Women leaders of Tomorrow.

Stressing on the need for women to speak up, MaanviGagroo, said,“Sometimes, we don’t set out to be role models and even I never thought that someday I will become one. I always used to support what I felt was right and negate what bothered me. Later on, I realised that people found it powerful and started supporting my voice. It’s a great feeling to and that’s why I stronglyfeel that we, women should always voice our concerns in our own possible way.”

“I would ask all girls and women to never back down from anything. After all, we all have the warrior in us. We all fight and win our own battles in own way and in own terms. So never step back from living life on your own terms and never let people tell you what is right or wrong. That is the premise of our lives – yours and mine,” said Kena Shree.

Some of the other eminent speakers taking part in the conversation included Reena Puri, Executive Editor, Amar Chitra Katha; Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, Journalist, Writer-Director, Brand Strategist and Egalitarian Earth Activist; Meghna Peer, CMO India and South Asia, Newell; KomalHiranandani, Founder – Dolce Vee; and Aparna Sundaresaran, Deputy Editor, Tinkle.