CHANDIGARH,April 22, 2024: Today, celebrating world earth day, a unique 1^st Model Indian Girls Parliament-MIGP was organized at Dev Samaj College of Education, Chandigarh, by Yuvsatta, Department of Environment, Chandigarh Administration and Sustainable Development Club of Dev Samaj College of Education. In which 200 students of ten prominent schools of the city and Dev Samaj College participated and alongside the ‘Girls Parliament’, an Intra-College Poster and Short Mobile Video Contest was also organized on this year’s world earth day theme of "Planet V/s. Plastics’.

Prominent participating dignitaries include Mr. Surinder Kumar, Additional District & Sessions Judge cum Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh, Ms. Shipra Bansal, Chairperson, Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights-CCPCR, Mr. Pramod Sharma, Founder, Yuvsatta, Mr. Sandeep Joshi-the cartoonist, Prof. Richa Sharma, Principal of Dev Samaj College of Education and Mr. Kulbhushan Kanwar, the environmentalist.

Giving information about the initiative Mr. Pramod Sharma shared that participating teams from many prominent schools of the tricity sent their all girls parliamentarians teams, representing different states and union territories of India to present their local issues and forward stepping in four major areas of SDG5 Compatible State/ UT by 2030-Gender Equality, Solutions of ‘WWW-Water & Waste Management’ in their State/UT, Crime Prevention & Criminal Justice in their State/UT and reaping the benefits of demographic dividend in their State/UT.

Appreciating the whole initiative Mr. Surinder Kumar said that developing active citizenship is key to empowering communities in a democracy. NGO’s and educational institutions should encourage the youth to engage actively in their communities, develop solutions for civic challenges, and expand their roles within the governance structure. The need is to unlock the potential and leverage the power of diversity in the youth.

In her address Ms. Shipra Bansal said that they at CCPCR said that participation at such platforms provides girls inspiration to strive and achieve their dreams. Such initiative not only gives them a chance to be heard and understood, but also provides them with opportunities to grow.

The five best winning teams of 1^st Model Indian Girls Parliament included girls’ parliamentarians’ teams of Yadvindra Public School, Gurukul Global School, New Public School, St. Soldier International School and St. Joseph’s Sr. Sec. School, Chandigarh. Ten winners of an Intra-College Poster & Short Video making contest on the theme of ‘Planet V/s. Plastics' were also honoured on the occasion’. by the prominent dignitaries. A Muppet Show titled 'Planet V/S. Plastics' was also shown on the occasion.

In her concluding remarks Prof. Agnese Dhillon, Secretary of Dev Samaj Colleges Managing Committee said in light of values of Dev Samaj they celebrate April 22nd as ‘Udbhid Jagat Diwas’, that lays utmost importance in developing a deep bond and inculcating a sense of gratitude for nature among our students.