Chandigarh, October 11: Today, celebrating International Day of Girl Child, 550 School girls from 14 prominent Schools of the city, joined hands to promote the ‘Girls India Project’s slogan of ‘Demand & Claim UR Rights’, by standing in a human chain with Pink Turbans on, from DAV Model School, Sector 15A to Gandhi Smarak Bhawan, Sector 16, Chandigarh. Mr. Puneesh Jindia, Member Secretary, Chandigarh State Legal Services Authority, was the Chief Guest on the occasion.

This unique initiative was organized by the Peace Club of DAV Model School, Sector 15A and NGO-Yuvsatta in active collaboration with Carmel Convent School, St. John’s School, IS Dev Samaj Sr. Sec. School, KB DAV Sr. Sec. School, Kundan International School, RIMT World School, Banyan Tree School, GMSSS, Sector 23A, MRA Sr. Sec. Model School, GMSSS, Kaimbwala, GMSSS, Sarangpur, GMS, Bapudham Colony & Kitabghar. Prominent others who were present on the occasion were Mr RC Jeewan, Vice Chairman and Madhu Bahl, Regional Director of DAV Managing Committee Member, Mr. Rajeshwar Singh, Law officer, SLSA, Sr. Advocate, Ms. Reeta Kohli, Mr. Baljinder Singh Bittoo, Chairman & Mr. Pradip, Secretary of FOSWAC-Federation of Sector Welfare Associations.

Sharing information about the endeavour Mrs. Anuja Sharma, Principal of DAV Model School, Sector 15A said that along with 530 School girls wearing Pink Turbans, boys of St. John’s High School also joined with pink stoles to show solidarity with the cause. She also added that Turban- Pagri is a symbol of honour and respect in all the regions where it is a practice to wear one, especially in north India with worst kind of sex ratio and cases of female foeticide. And pink colour represents compassion, nurturing and love. It relates to unconditional love and understanding, and the giving and receiving of nurturing. So, the idea is to give a strong message of ‘‘RISING GIRLS & EMPOWERED NATION’.

Pramod Sharma, founder of Yuvsatta-NGO added that “She makes the world bright, but still struggles to see light”, keeping this in mind today’s initiative was planned to raise consciousness in society towards the rights and dignity of girls at all levels. And we can’t dream of a developed India with 50% of our female population lacking behind the shackles of patriarchy.

The Chief Guest Mr. Puneesh Jindia, while launching the campaign with the release of colourful balloons at DAV Model School, said that it’s time for girls and women to raise their voices for their fundamental rights of education, healthcare, equality & human rights bestowed upon them by the constitution of India. And until & unless they feel empowered from inside and take a stand to claim their due rights, one can’t expect any drastic change in their position in society.

S. Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, Managing Director, MILKFED, Punjab, which sponsored the refreshments for participating students and teachers, appreciated the efforts of involving 550 School Girls to inspire change in consonance with 550 years celebrations of Shree Guru Nanak Dev ji, shared that way back in 1499 Guru Nanak Dev ji told people that “[it] is a woman who keeps the race going” and that we should not “consider woman cursed and condemned, [when] from woman are born leaders and kings.”