Category Archives: India’s Daughters

Studyhall Educational Foundation is launching a campaign called “India’s daughters: Unwanted, Unsafe, Unequal”. We invite the entire Studyhall family, students, alumni, teachers, parents and others to join us as we raise our voice and consciousness against gender violence and gender inequality in India in particular and in the world in general. The campaign will include online and offline activites which will be announced on our website. Please participate in the discussions by writing blogs and comments and encourage your family and friends to do the same. Let us all work together towards an egalitarian social order.

SHEF, HCL Foundation organise issue-based concerts in 8 KGBVs of Lucknow

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SHEF, HCL Foundation organise issue-based concerts in 8 KGBVs of Lucknow

Lucknow, February 26, 2026: For the first time, annual concerts were organized across eight Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) in Lucknow by Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF) in collaboration with HCL Foundation and with support from the Basic Shiksha Vibhag, Lucknow. The final concert was held on February 25, marking the completion of this landmark initiative. 560 parents attended the concerts across all eight schools.

The initiative began with KGBV Chinhat and was later extended to other KGBVs following district approval. Each school chose themes focused on gender equality and girls’ education. Through dance and issue-based dramas, girls conveyed powerful messages to parents and the wider community.

The events were attended by Dr. Urvashi Sahni, Founder and CEO of SHEF; representatives from HCL Foundation; DC–Balika Shiksha; Block-level officers; Tehsildars; officials from the Basic Shiksha Vibhag; Academic Resource Persons (ARPs); and members of the Mission Shakti team and local police.

Basic Shiksha Adhikari Vipin Kumar said, “The true purpose of education is realized only when schools, parents, and the community come together. Such efforts lay the foundation for children’s holistic development and a stronger future.”

DC–Balika Savita added, “Such programs bring schools to life. They strengthen parents’ engagement and create a supportive environment that advances gender equality and the holistic development of girls.”

Saron (Class 7, BKT) shared that through the annual function she understood the deeper meaning of freedom and gender equality. Earlier, she believed freedom referred only to national independence, but she now realizes it also means equal rights, opportunities, and confidence for girls. “I realized that I can do anything,” she said.

Teachers described the concerts as innovative and impactful, noting that they significantly boosted girls’ confidence and encouraged stronger parental support for continued education.

शेफ और एच.सी.एल फाउंडेशन ने लखनऊ के आठ कस्तूरबा गांधी बालिका विद्यालयों में किए लैंगिक समानता पर आधारित वार्षिक कार्यक्रम आयोजित किए

https://aapkikhabar.com/news/study-hall-educational-foundation-and-hcl-foundation/cid18295185.htm

Helping KGBV girls learn with joy_ A joint effort by SHEF, HCL Foundation and Basic Education Dept

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Lucknow, July 2025 – In a strong step toward holistic and joyful learning, the Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF), with support from the HCL Foundation and Basic Education Department, launched a large-scale distribution drive across 8 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) in Lucknow.
The drive was formally inaugurated at KGBV Sarojini Nagar by Mr. Ram Pravesh, Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA), Lucknow, whose leadership and presence underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening girls’ education. Also present were KGBV warden Vandana Awasthi, representatives from the HCL Foundation, and the SHEF team.
As part of this initiative, nearly 800 girls received sports shoes and a wide range of games including volleyball, badminton, UNO, chess, and Monopoly — marking the launch of Sports Month across KGBVs. This effort aims to promote physical activity, boost confidence, and create more inclusive, energetic school environments through regular play.
To further support new admissions and address foundational learning gaps, specially curated Hindi and Mathematics workbooks were also distributed. These resources will help girls strengthen basic academic skills at their own pace, ensuring no child is left behind.
This collaborative effort by SHEF, HCL Foundation, and the Basic Education Department, Lucknow, with strong support from school leadership and teachers, aims to make KGBVs joyful, engaging, and empowering spaces for adolescent girls.

On the Streets for Change: Prerna Students Engage Over 3,000 Community Members to Urge Action for Women’s Safety

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November 30, 2024: Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF) organized a powerful rally under its annual girls’ rights campaign – India’s Daughter Campaign to advocate for the safety of women and girls. The event was led by students of the Veerangana group, a student-led social action initiative at Prerna Girls School and Prerna Boys School. Over 700 students participated, reaching out to more than 3,000 community members across the villages of Digdiga, Gwari, and Ujariyaon in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow.

Speaking at the event, Rakhee Panjwani, Principal of Prerna Girls School, emphasized the importance of collective action. She said, “Ensuring the safety of women and girls is a societal responsibility. Change begins with each one of us. I urge men and boys to stand with us in the fight to end violence against women and create a safe world for everyone.”

The rally featured vibrant posters, impactful slogans such as “Educate Men to Ensure Women’s Safety,” and street plays aimed at raising awareness. Students engaged community members in signature campaigns, encouraging them to pledge their commitment to fostering safe, respectful spaces for women at home, in society, and at the workplace.

The event witnessed participation from heads of SHEF schools including Roli Saxena, Vice Principal of Prerna Girls School; Pratima Srivastava, Principal of Prerna Boys School; Monica Chandra; Shibani Sahni; and Priyanka Saxena, the lead for the India’s Daughter Campaign. Surabhi Kashyup representing the Global Shapers Lucknow Hub, also lent her support to the initiative.

The rally is part of SHEF’s ongoing efforts to promote gender equality and empower communities to take a stand against violence and discrimination.

India’s Daughters Campaign: Study Hall children break gender stereotypes, perform Nukkad Natak at Shalimar Gateway Mall

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Lucknow: Study Hall children presented a “Nukkad Natak,” themed around challenging gender roles and advocating for change at Shalimar Gateway Mall on Saturday, 28th April. This was carried out as a part of the India’s Daughters Campaign (IDC), an annual girls’ empowerment campaign by Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF) that aims to raise awareness around violence against women. The Nukkad natak shed light on sharing responsibilities at home, to create an equal and just world for everyone. Over 150 people were present and the event garnered over 100 signatures on a pledge to end violence against women.

The street play, a cornerstone of the IDC, aims to dismantle gender stereotypes and urge individuals to reconsider their mindsets regarding gender-based discrimination.

“Achieving equality requires the active participation of boys and men,” said Priyanka Saxena, Program Manager IDC at SHEF. “Through this year’s campaign, we aim to mobilize and educate boys and men to become advocates for gender justice.”

Uplabdhi, a student of class 10th at Study Hall said,  “We are raising awareness through drama that we need to challenge gender stereotypes and we need to create an equal and just society for everyone to thrive in.”

Bhartendu, teacher at Study Hall said, “Through India’s Daughters Campaign we are raising awareness regarding violence against women and the urgent need to take action against it. We must educate men and boys to build gender lens and sensitivity in order to bring change.”

Recognizing the need for a holistic approach to address gender inequality, the campaign emphasizes the importance of boys and men in the fight against violence against women. While efforts to empower girls and women are crucial, it is equally imperative for boys to challenge patriarchal norms and foster an egalitarian society. Since its inception in 2012, the India’s Daughters Campaign has witnessed remarkable growth, reaching over 1.1 million community members and 232,000 students in its latest edition in 2019. This year, the campaign takes a unique approach by placing boys and men at the forefront of discussions on gender inequality.

“Equality is an important aspect of democracy,” says Asim Arun, Minister of State social welfare at IDC award ceremony

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Lucknow: “Equality is an important aspect of democracy. Being democratic means that we believe and treat everyone equally. It is important to educate our boys that girls are equal and they have to work together to strengthen democracy and I am glad that Study Hall Educational Foundation is working towards educating everyone for equality and social justice,” said Asim Arun, Minister of State, Social Welfare at the India’s Daughters Campaign award ceremony. 

Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF) organized the annual India’s Daughters Campaign (IDC) award ceremony on Tuesday. As a part of the campaign, discussions on patriarchy were organized in 1700 schools and 2 lakh children from all districts of Uttar Pradesh participated in the campaign. Drama competition, film making, poster making, essay and poem writing competitions were conducted and an amount of 1 lakh 54 thousand was distributed among the winners as scholarship. Mr P K Tripathi, Joint Director of Samj Kalyan was also present. Members from organisations like – UNICEF, Room To Read, AIDWA, AALI, Jijiwisha Society, Robin Hood Army, DIET and Manavsrijan were also present.

Dr Urvashi Sahni, founder and CEO of SHEF said, “Congratulations to the winners as well as all the children who participated in our campaign. Our campaign urges men and boys to change. When we talk about equality, it is imperative to include boys and men in the conversation. They must learn that patriarchy is cruel, unfair, unjust to women and girls and nothing can change if we don’t teach our boys and men to annihilate patriarchal structures and establish an egalitarian one instead.”

For the past two years, boys have become the focus of the IDC. The theme of this year’s campaign was – It’s time for men and boys to change, which focused on educating boys and men to fight patriarchy and become advocates and champions of gender justice. In  the last 12 years, SHEF through IDC has successfully mobilized over 11 lakh community members and raised awareness regarding girl’s rights and gender based violence.

Photo courtesy: DSH Team

Over 40 NGOs join hands with SHEF to educate men and boys to become activists and advocates of gender justice

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Lucknow: India’s Daughters’ Campaign (IDC) called on fellow NGOs to join forces to mobilize and educate men and boys to become activists and champions of gender justice. Over 40 NGOs and government officials participated in the meeting. Representatives from organizations like – Suraksha, Prayatna, AALI, Millan, Action Aid, Vatsalya, Shabhagi Sikshan Kender and AMS along with representatives from government schools. 

“The purpose of this alliance, which is still taking shape, stems from the fact that most efforts to address gender inequality focus solely on empowering girls and women. While a necessary part of the equation, it is also imperative that boys learn to fight, resist, and end sexist oppression” said Priyanka Saxena who is incharge of the India’s Daughters’ Campaign – an initiative of Study Hall Educational Foundation.  The IDC takes a unique approach by bringing boys and men to the center of the discussion on gender inequality. Dissecting the perils of patriarchy, the campaign focuses on why men should give up power and change. 

Dr Urvashi Sahni, founder and CEO of SHEF said, “Boys and men must learn to deconstruct the patriarchal conception of masculinity and reconstruct an egalitarian one in its place. They must learn to recognize girls and women as equal persons to themselves, develop a critical understanding of patriarchal structures that frame their lives, and develop a critical feminist consciousness.”

“If we want to amplify this joint effort, then we must start by redefining manhood and boyhood and breaking open what it means to be a boy or girl and let our children decide who they are.” said Ritu from Humsafar.

Most efforts to address gender inequality focus solely on empowering girls and women. While a necessary part of the equation, it is also imperative that boys learn to fight, resist, and end sexist oppression. IDC aims to mobilize and educate men and boys to become activists and advocates of gender justice. 

“You have to start teaching boys when they’re young, fathers need to set good examples for their sons. There is a lot of unlearning to be done.” Asiya, independent gender consultant.

Photo courtesy: DSH Team

India’s Daughter Campaign- Awareness march taken out against child marriage at Vidyasthali

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On 19th April 2019 Vidyasthali Kannar Inter College, Malihabad organised awareness march regarding child marriage and promoting girls education.This march was carried out in two villages, Narsing khera and Aatha. This march was a part India’s Daughter Campaign organised yearly by Study Hall Educational Foundation. This Campaign aims to raise awareness regarding girl’s rights and education.

More than 170 members participated in this and reached out to more than 500 community members. The students used slogans like “Bal Vivah Gulami Hai, Yeh Gulami Hume Rukwani Hai”, “Nari Ka Karo Sammaan, Tabhi Banega Desh Mahaan”. The students performed a ‘nukkad Natak’ to explain why child marriage should be forbidden. The students interacted with the community members and asked them take a pledge and say no to child marriage. They also took signatures of the community members.

India’s Daughters Campaign Rally
httpvh://youtu.be/esIOwhRUcSA


Panel discussion held on International Women’s Day

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On 8 March 2019, the Study Hall Educational Foundation organized a panel discussion on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The topic of this discussion was ‘Why the status of women in India is not a major election agenda’. This was held as part of annual India’s Daughters’ Campaign that Study Hall Educational Foundation conducts.
On this occasion, the guest Juhi Singh, spokesperson, Samajwadi Party, Rakesh Tripathi, spokesperson, Bhartiya Janta Party, Sadaf Jafar, spokesperson and Farah, member of Sheroes Hangout cafe were present and they discussed the topic.

The program started with the introduction of our esteemed guests. The discussion started with a very strong question asked by a Prerna Girls School student, Sapna Bharti. She asked, “I am a first-time voter. I want to ask why should I vote for a political party which does not have gender equality as a major issue on their manifesto?” The students continued to ask questions and our guests answered them.

In this discussion, Sadaf Jafar, spokesperson, Congress, said, “We must rise beyond political differences and collectively fight against structural violence that women face.” She also advised students, to read the manifesto of the party before voting and give the vote to a party which they think will help to build a better nation.

Juhi Singh, spokesperson, Samajwadi Party said, “We make event-based political agenda and we accept that. We will try and work on it. I see confident young women here who are capable of becoming strong political leaders in the future and I hope we will have more participation of women in politics in the future”.

Rakesh Tripathi, spokesperson, Bhartiya Janta Party, said, “women should stop believing they are weak and raise voice against the small issues they face, then only we can change the society”.

On this occasion, the parents of Prerna Girls School were also invited. For the last six years, the Aarohini Initiative organizes yearly India’s Daughters’ campaign that focuses on gender empowerment issues with the goal of raising awareness in the community about gender discrimination.

The program was concluded with the felicitation of the mothers of Prerna Girls School students and vote of thanks.

 

Indian’s Daughter Campaign 2018: Unwanted, Unequal and Unsafe

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प्रेरणा बालक/बालिका विद्यालय, स्टडी हाॅल स्कूल, व सेन्टर फाॅर लर्निंग के 400 विद्यार्थियों द्वारा, भारत की बेटियांः अनचाही, असमान और असुरक्षित विषय पर जागरूक्ता रैली निकाली, रैली स्टडी हाल स्कूल से निकल कर पटेलपुरम, मलेशा मऊ, खरगापुर, से होते हुए मकदूमपुर, गोमतीनगर पर समाप्त की गई। जिसमें लगभग 4000 लोगों तक बाल विवाह, छेड़छाड़ और लड़कियों के खिलाफ हो रही हिंसा को रोकने के लिए संदेश पहुंचाया गया। विद्यार्थियों ने नुकड नाटक किया, नारे लगाये व बाल विवाह कानून के बारे में लोगों को बता कर समुदाय के लोगों को जागरूक किया और उन्हे शपथ दिलाया कि वो अपने बच्चों का विवाह सही समय पर और उनकी इच्छा के अनुसार करेंगे और बच्चों की पढ़ाई में कोई बाधा नही आने देंगे।

स्टडी हाॅल ऐजुकेशनल फाउन्डेशन द्वारा पिछले 6 वर्षों से इन्डियाज़ डाटर कैम्पेन नाम से लड़कियों और औरतों के खिलाफ हो रही हिंसा के विरूद्व जागरूक्ता अभियान चालाया जा रहा है। प्रत्येक वर्ष की तरह इस वर्ष भी इन्डियाज़ डाटर कैम्पेन के अन्र्तगत भारत की बेटीयां, अनचाही, समानय, असुरक्षित मुद्दे पर पूरे उत्तर प्रदेश में जागरूक्ता अभियान चलाया जा रहा है। आज दिनांक 28/04/2018 को लखनऊ के चार क्षेत्रों में पटेलपुरम, मलेशा मऊ, खरगापुर, और मकदूमपुर, में जागरूक्ता रैली निकाली गई, जिसमें प्रेरणा बालक/बालिका विद्यालय, स्टडी हाॅल स्कूल, व सेन्टर फाॅर लर्निंग के 400 विद्यार्थियों ने प्रतिभाग किया। जिसमें विद्यार्थियों ने नाटक के द्वारा लोगों को जागरूक करने का प्रयास किया, नाटक देखने के बाद समुदाय की कई महिलाओं ने कहा कि उनका विवाह 14, 15 वर्ष की उम्र में ही हो गया था लेकिन अब वो अपनी बेटियों के साथ ऐसा नही होने देंगी। मकदूमपुर से असलम जी ने कहा कि लड़कियों के साथ हो रही हिंसा को रोकने के लिए पूरे समाज को साथ आना होगा, मेरी बहन का बाल विवाह हुआ था लेकिन अब मैं अपनी बच्चियों का बाल विवाह नही होने दूंगा। कुछ पुरूषों ने कहा कि समाज में लड़कियां सुरक्षित नही हैं इस लिए माॅ बाप उनकी शादी जल्दी कर देते हैं ताकि लड़की अपने घर की हो जाये। बच्चियों ने समुदाय को बाल विवाह कानून के बारे में बताते हुए समाज़ को लड़कियों के प्रति संवदेनशील होने व लड़कियों को भी एक नागरिक के रूप में स्वीकार करने की अपील की, साथ ही यह भी कहा कि बच्चियों का बाल विवाह करने या सुरक्षा के ड़र से पढ़ाई छुडा कर घर में बिठाने के बजाये लड़कों को शिक्षित व जागरूक करें ताकि लड़कियां अपनी जिन्दगी को खुल कर जी सकें।