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October 12, 2014

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It was a conflicting emotion that we all went through when UN announced its theme of International Day of the Girl Child for 2014, Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence. The International Day of the Girl Child was recognized in 2011 and now in 2014 we still are at war to end this cycle of violence against women and girls. The good part is that we have recognized it and adapted it to some extent and are working towards a significant change.

It is not an easy life for a girl in Delhi, India or anywhere in the world. Being paranoid and at alert at all times has become an almost natural state of our being which definitely indicates to the stressed state of mind we live in. To change this lifestyle, to not be so afraid at all times, to be able to express oneself without being overwhelmed by the pointed fingers requires a tremendous amount of hard work but just a simple change in the mindset and acceptance.

The issue can never be solved in the offensive. Increase in severity of punishments, being covered at all times are short battle won but the war can only won victoriously when we focus on the adolescent. The minds which have yet to be hardened by society’s ideology, these minds can be protected and made aware of their rights, become activist, be the beginning of a generation which does not need a day to protect its girls.

At a student’s level our contribution can go beyond the customary likes and posts on the social media. It needs effort, may take time out of our social life but in the end it is worth it. I have mentioned below a few organizations that you can approach if you are really interested in contributing towards the empowerment of adolescent. If you do take it up, I promise you will not only help in their empowerment, you will definitely come out as a stronger person.

Know Your Body, Know Your Rights: The YP Foundation

‘Know Your Body, Know Your Rights’ (KYBKYR) is a youth-led and -run national policy and peer education programme, founded in 2002 by The YP Foundation, that empowers young people to address their sexual and reproductive health and rights. The key focus of the KYBKYR programme is to build young people’s technical capacities to access unbiased, evidence-based information on gender, sexuality, health and rights, enabling them to negotiate cultural and political barriers faced at both community and policy levels.

For more information, click here for their website
For the Facebook page: KYBKYR

Jagori

Jagori means “Awaken, women”. Their objective is to have awareness building on violence, health, education, development, and other issues critical for women´s individual and collective empowerment.  They also disseminate information and knowledge on feminist concerns to meet the needs of women´s groups, NGOs, and development organizations and advocate on women´s rights and gender equality.

For more information, click here for their website

Because I am a Girl: Plan International

Through the Because I am a Girl campaign, Plan‘s projects attempt to address the barriers to girls completing a quality education of at least 9 years, as well as equip them with the assets they need to safe guard their future, promote gender equality and improve their lives. The campaign aims to reach 4 million girls directly – improving their lives with access to school, skills, livelihoods and protection. You can sponsor a girl child and also make a donation.

For more information, click here for their website

Bachpan Bachao Andolan:
Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) symbolizes India’s largest grassroots movement for the protection of children, ensuring their quality education. By 2013, BBA had rescued more than 82 800 victims of trafficking, slavery and child labour and has helped them re-establish trust in society and find promising futures for themselves.

For more information, click here for their website

 

Feature image: http://becauseiamagirl.ca

Ms. Kamya Kiran, the College President 2014-15 of Kamala Nehru College, believes hard work will solely do justice to her responsibilities. She wishes to be a force to reckon with and plans to begin from working on little problems. DU Beat brings to you an interview with Ms. Kamya Kiran.

Could you give us a rough idea of your agenda in election campaign?

My only agenda during this year’s election campaign is to help the student body of KNC in as many ways as possible. I spent time with the students and plan to work on issues they mentioned.

How do you plan to go about executing your agenda and launching Kamala Nehru College as a brand in itself?

KNC is an established and renowned college. The only thing which prevents the college from being a brand in itself is the tiny wrinkles it has which need to be smoothed out.

College President often means skipping classes, doing all the work and being specifically responsible. Do you think it’s a big sacrifice in terms of academics?

I do not feel the position asks for a big sacrifice academically. I’m an ECA student and missing classes is nothing extraordinary for me. The trick is to work hard on one’s own and keep up with the rest of the classes.

In this academic year, what is the one thing that you’re determined to focus your attention on?

As the president, I’m currently focusing on figuring out ways to fulfill my promise to the student body about solving their problems as well as pushing new, innovative projects which will benefit the student body greatly.

Lastly, how important do you think it is for KNC to have a student union that walks the talk?

I think it is very important for every college to have a student union which walks the talk. For me, the strength and ability to be vocal and to push actively for the requirements of the student body is what marks a good student union. I believe these traits define any student body and not just KNC’s.

Arushi Pathak

[email protected]

In a letter and memorandum submitted to the Executive Director of the School of Open Learning on October 7, 2014, the postgraduate students of Political Science expressed their grievances regarding the teaching structure of the faculty and management. While bringing to light their problems with the faculty, they also mentioned how the lack of course material and library access were posing difficulties for them.

Through the letter, the political science students, DU SOL Students’ Union and Krantikari Yuva Sangathan demanded that they be provided with the course material immediately as they will be sitting for their exams this November. The letter states that without the course material, they cannot be expected to take exams in a month’s time. Also, they described how inefficient the teachers were, most of them inexperienced with the postgraduate teaching levels, and asked for the Faculty of Political Science or that of SOL to teach them, since the course if designed by them. Moreover, in comparison to regular university students who attend 90 lectures in a semester, SOL students only get 15, on the weekends, and yet they are expected to compete at the same levels.

They also brought to notice the issue of the SOL library, which is closed on Saturday and Sunday, the only days when SOL holds classes for them. They question as to how they are supposed to borrow course books, which are usually unavailable or in a grim condition, when the library is not open. Also, since SOL follows the annual pattern rather than the semester system, the students thus have no internal assessment and have to sit for a whole 100 marks paper, a contradiction to the 75+25 pattern of regular university students.

The letter demanded that the course material be provided immediately, and the teaching staff be improved. Also, there should be two days of classes every week and their answer scripts be checked by SOL or the department of Political Science, and requested that their results be declared in time, so that they are eligible to apply somewhere else. They requested that till the time SOL library is being renovated, they be issued library cards for the Central Library, and the new and renovated library must have multiple copies of syllabi-suggested books, in proper condition. Lastly, they requested that their grievances be addressed as soon as possible, and some amount of parity be brought between them and the regular university students, as it is they who require the support of SOL the most.