New Delhi: The pressing menace of sex selective abortions bears the potential to exacerbate women status and sow seeds of health crisis. To address this global issue, a unique women empowerment drive "Tu Hai Shakti" against sex selective abortions was launched by DJJS under its gender equality initiative ‘Santulan’ on 27th March 2016 in New Delhi. The drive was declared launched by Hon'ble Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Sh. J. P. Nadda in presence of Hon’ble MP and National Secretary BJP Sh. Maheish Girri; with a target of covering 6000 areas including villages, towns and districts in 8 states of India - Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, New Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh wherein 8 women ambassadors representing each state along with 77 women forums, 25,000 women volunteers would be carved as change agents to mobilize action and thus sensitize lakhs of people across the country against gender injustice.
To set-forth the campaign, the trainings of volunteers in abovementioned 8 states are being organized by head office santulan team of DJJS to educate them about mode of activities to be conducted, by means of demonstrations and presentations. Beginning the drive from the most gender critical state of the lot-Haryana, the next milestone was the capital city-New Delhi.
The training, conducted by disciple of Shri Ashutosh Maharj Ji and program coordinator of Santulan, was organized on May 28, 2016 at Shiva Palace, Vijay Vihar, Rohini where preachers and volunteers from 12 sub-branches of DJJS in New Delhi & NCR namely Nehru Place, Patel Nagar, Vikaspuri, Vishnu Garden, Dwarka, Pitampura, Qutubgarh, Rohini, Karkardooma, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Ghaziabad were called to strategize the further conduct of campaign with a vision to turn volunteers into change agents who would further reach out to masses to spread the message of save girl child.
The TOT workshop was moderated by Sadhvi Deepika Bharti Ji, disciple of His Holiness Ashutosh Maharaj Ji and the program incharge of DJJS Santulan. A brief on the issue of female feticide and reasons behind skewed sex ratio set the beginning of the workshop; followed by an act on ‘I am a Woman, Is it a crime?’ by team of women volunteers.
A group discussion round was organized where groups were made on the basis of their respective branch and a gender based newspaper cutting was given to them to discuss over. After the discussion, 1 representative from each branch was called on stage to concisely explain their points of discussion and take on it. Post the discussion was a showcase of forum theatre on ‘Elimination of Female Feticide’ to present how deep-rooted the problem persists.
A documentary on DJJS’s perspective and vision of Nari was screened that ignited the spirit of empowerment in every one present. With a short lunch break, an informative presentation was given by Sadhvi Ji to disseminate knowledge of documentation of every activity to be organized under the campaign.
Towards the end was a “I Pledge” round that witnessed commitments of all the participants to work pro-actively for the cause and establishment of a better future for girl child generation to come. The training was concluded with a group photo.
An exclusive exhibition in the form of “Santulan Haat” was arranged for the participants to gauge opinions on prevalent gender discrimination and crime against women. A survey pre-event and post-event was also organized to evaluate and track the change in mind set of an individual.
