October 11 marks the International Day Of Girl Child and to celebrate gender equality, a group of Delhi girls assumed the role of traffic controllers on the eve of the worldwide event.
More than 100 girls came out on the roads in four places in Delhi to manage traffic as well as spread awareness about gender equality. To this end, they distributed pamphlets and displayed banners to inform the public.
The International Day Of Girl Child is globally observed every year on October 11. It was first celebrated in 2012.
The drive, “Girls taking Over” is an initiative by Plan India – an NGO that works towards child development – and the European Union (EU). The three-year collaboration between these organizations is aimed at helping girls break free of the discriminations imposed on them.
The event was flagged off by Tomasz Kozlowski, the EU Ambassador to India, who distributed badges to girls who mainly hailed from the marginalised sections of the society.
The girls took to Rajpath, Mandi House, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Windsor Circle in Delhi for their two-hour-long drive. They were accompanied by traffic personnel as well.
Champa (19), who participated in the drive, said, “I was deployed at the India Gate intersection. I, with others, distributed pamphlets to commuters and told them about the importance of educating girls and treating them equally. We also guided the traffic and asked the drivers to get behind the zebra crossing whenever one erred beyond it,” she said.
“I wanted to be part of the initiative since I believe that girls in our community are kept under restrictions and I want to change that,” she further added.
source: Indiatimes