Jaipur: Yatra naryastu pujyante, ramante tarta devataha.This Sanskrit shloka from Rig Veda states - Women are honored where, Divinity blossoms there. In a city like Rajasthan, where traditional patriarchal norms rule and have relegated women to subordinate status within the household and workplace as well, there is a dire need of value creation for females. In its international drive to sensitize masses to the increasing crime in society against women, DJJS gender equality program Santulan conducted an awareness drive at the Pink Square Mall in Jaipur as a part of month long countrywide campaign on International Women’s Day – Swabhiman.
Statistics from NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau's Crime) in India 2012 report plotted Jaipur as the fourth most unsafe city for women, taking into consideration all sorts of crime, female feticide being worst among them. By means of an exhibition, an endeavour was made to address female feticide as one of the worst forms of violence against women with the present sex ratio in the age group of 0-6 going as low as 914:1000 (census of India 2011).
Interactive activities such as question answer quiz to be answered by throwing dart on the right answer on the wall in front, taking pledge by making coloured handprints on the handprint wall, stamping tattoo of 'save girl child' on visitor's hands, playing nukkad natak multiple times in front of the awareness desks to sensitize public, poster exhibition on female feticide and testimonies of people visiting the mall were few of the activities undertaken.
Ms. Pratibha, Store Manager of a renowned retail store 'Mom & Me' appreciated the ceaseless efforts of the organization in the field of gender quality and eradication of crime against women from the entire society. Ms. Pragya, Store Manager of Gionee Mobile Co. visited the counter and shared her achievements, as to how she is managing a team of thrity eight people, being the sole female employee. In addition, she acknowledged the contribution of DJJS in the concern of gender equality by saying, 'such programs should be organized time to time as awareness is very much imperative for today’s society having a skewed ratio'.
The day long awareness drive sensitizes tens of thousands. The visitors not just enquired about the activities being conducted, but also got themselves registered as volunteers for future such events.
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