Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)
Mangaluru, Apr 23: "If women are educated then they will be able to overcome atrocities meted out against them and will be able to lead a respectful life," said Ramanath Rai, district in-charge minister.
He was addressing the launching ceremony of 'Shale Kade Nanna Nade' (My Walk Towards School), an ambitious campaign of Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) and Karnataka's education department, at Town Hall here on Saturday April 23.
"The women in our society have been a victim of various kinds of atrocities. Empowering them through education will help them overcome the atrocities and they will be able to lead a respectful life.
"The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights must also respond to child abuse with the aim to bring them back to school. When we read about sexual assaults on children we get the feeling whether humans have become animals. Every citizen must give a thought to it and must contribute to curbing this menace," Rai entreated.
"People sometimes say that Gurukul system was better than the present education system. But the fact is, in that system education was limited to only a few people. Only the king's family were given education and the downtrodden were always deprived of it. Introduction of education to all paved the way to nation's growth," he added.
MLA of Mangaluru North Mohiuddin Bava said, "If education is imparted to everyone in the country, India will soon become a superpower. This is a district which has 11 medical colleges and several engineering colleges and hence it has established a unique name for itself. Even though there are several private institutions here, government schools have also upgraded their education standards.
"Today there is a need to educate children of migrant labourers who come to earn their bread from northern Karnataka. If we educate them, we can reach our goal of 100 percent literacy in the district," he added.
Chairperson of KSCPCR Kripa Alva said, "If there is education there will be no child marriages. Even child labour will not exist. The accused in several sexual assault cases are either dropouts or uneducated. Hence, education is a key factor in shaping one's personality and the answer to all the menaces in the society.
"This campaign has been launched in all the 30 districts of the state. The responsibility to make it a success rests upon all of us," she added.
The programme also marked the culmination of 'Ranga Dhwani', a month-long summer training programme for 199 school children. The children showcased four plays, namely 'Devanruthya', 'Pustakadajji Mattu Mararakkasa', 'Kuhoo Kuhoo Kogile' and 'Dombarata' written by Murahari Kasargod, Mounesh Vishwakarma, Viidhu Ucchil and Jagan Pawar respectively.
DC A B Ibrahim, ZP CEO Srividya, chief secretary of district law authority Ganesh P, MUDA president Ibrahim Kodijal and others were present.