Make education, not marriage your goal

Study Hall Educational Foundation organized a panel discussion on the occasion of International Day of The Girl Child. The topic of this discussion was ‘Shadi Ek Matr Lakshya Nahi hai ladki ke jeevan ka’. Children of Prerna Girls School, Prerna Boys School and the alumni of Prerna Girls school were among the panelist.

Sapna Bharti a student of Prerna Girls School asked the parents, “To think about the dreams they had when they were kids, and what have they accomplished in their lives?” Majority of the parents of Prerna girls’, specially the mothers were married at an early age. 

Dr Urvashi Sahni addressed the parents and said, “We as parents need to realize that marriage is not the goal of girl’s life and we need stop seeing our girls as burden. They have every right to make decisions about their lives just like our boys. So, let them choose.”  

Moni Kannuajia, an alumna of Prerna said, “Marriage is not security. The society needs to change its notion of security. Many married women are raped, killed and are victims of domestic violence.”

Preeti Verma, an alumna of Prerna Girls School says, “As a married woman I want to tell you that marriage can be a part of your life but not the goal of your life. Being educated, independent and making your dreams come true should be the goal of your life.”

Tarun, a student of class 10^th, Prerna Boys School said, “Girls have all the right to live their lives as they want, and we as men need to support them, encourage them. We need to stop this gender discrimination and make our homes and streets safe for our girls, then only our nation will succeed.”

The students of Prerna performed a play on the theme of the panel discussion. The core of this discussion was to make parents aware that marriage is not the goal of a girl’s life and that marriage cannot give security to their daughters. What will give them security is getting educated, knowing their rights and being independent.

Students of Prerna were also felicitated at the event. Aditi a student of Prerna will be competing in the nationals in the taekwondo championship, and 4 of Prerna girls have are on the national team which will represent India in Sweden next year.