Women’s Day Celebrations in Sonepat

In a unique collaborative partnership between an institution of higher learning, the community and PRIA international women’s day was celebrated with 59 youth (16 boys and 43 girls) from 6 villages of Sonepat district, students and faculty of Bhagat Phool Singh (BPS) Mahila Vishwavidyalaya on 8 March 2014.

These youth are part of youth groups formed under the Kadam Badao Campaign – a youth driven initiative to end violence against women and girls – facilitated by PRIA. The youth were accompanied by sarpanches, aanganwadi workers, mahila samiti pradhans, SMS pradhans, their mothers and members of community based organisations. Participating from the university were the students and faculty of social work and law departments. This was the first ever women’s day celebration for the youth and for the BPS campus.

Expression of voices on gender discrimination and violence against women remained the focal theme of the day’s event. The young audience, many of whom were standing on a stage and speaking to an audience for the first time, were able to express themselves eloquently through poetry and songs. A street play, written and directed by members of the youth group, highlighted the issues of alcoholism, domestic violence and sex selective abortions, all social problems prevalent in their lives. For most, the highlight of the day was the poster making and slogan writing competitions.

Though the activities highlighted the inherent discrimination women face in their daily lives, the messages to end this cycle of violence that were articulated with resolve and determination gives hope for the future.

Intrinsic to the Kadam Badao Campaign are the personal pledges that are recorded on footprints by participants at the various campaign activities. On 8 March too, each participant made personal pledges to adopt one workable practical change at an individual level to end gender based discrimination and violence against women within their homes and communities.