CHANDIGARH, 16.11.22-The T.S. Central State Library, Sector 17, Chandigarh organised “Awareness Rally of School Children on Women Empowerment” on 15^th November, 2022 from Sukhna Lake to Capitol Complex in the morning at 7 am. Honourable Ms Purva Garg, IAS, Education Secretary, Chandigarh Administration and Sh Amandeep Singh Bhatti, PCS, Director Higher Education, Chandigarh Administration flagged off the event, interacted with the children and walked with children throughout the rally. Mrs Neelam Bansal, Library Incharge welcomed the dignitaries and the participants. Dr Neeza Singh, Librarian was the Co-ordinator of the event.

This rally was held to celebrate the 250th Birth Anniversary of Raja Rammohan Roy under the aegis of Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF), Kolkata, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

250 children from government and private schools of classes 8^th to 12^th along with school teachers from the following five schools participated in the event, namely, St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, Chandigarh, Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, Chandigarh, Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, Chandigarh, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, Chandigarh, and Delhi Public School, Sector 40, Chandigarh. Children carried posters made by them on the theme of Women Empowerment and raised slogans during the rally.

Raja Rammohan Roy is a champion of women’s rights, was a feminist ahead of his times. He condemned the subjugation of women and opposed the prevailing idea that women were inferior to men in intellect or in a moral sense. He attacked polygamy, caste rigidity, and child marriage. He eradicated the social evil of Sati. This rally was to make aware the society, especially women, about women empowerment, their rights and promoting women’s sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others. Despite a great deal of progress, women and girls continue to face discrimination and violence in every part of the world.