Hyderabad: About 350 adolescent girls from Ranga Reddy, Vikarabad, Suryapet, Jogulamba Gadwal and other districts who had faced discrimination took part in a convention ‘Freedom for Girls’.
They said they had to suffer discrimination in every sphere of life at home, in school and all the way up to their post-graduation.
Ms Rukmini Rao, director of Gramya Resource Centre, stressed on the importance of reporting “bad touch” and physical advances to the child helpline number, 108.
Girls were encouraged to learn self-defence courses like karate to safeguard themselves. The importance of girls being educated to achieve their dreams was highlighted in the convention.
It was decided to demand transportation facilities from the state government for girls from rural villages to schools.
Sreedevi Reddy, 14, from Vikarabad, said, “We should not be treated by lesser than boys and should be given the same freedom to follow our dreams. We can stand up for ourselves and fight against oppression only if we are educated.”
Coming from rural backgrounds, many girls spoke about being forced into marriage even before completeing their basic education.
Balladeer Gaddar, who was the chief guest, said discrimination existed across all castes and that girls should stand on their own feet before marriage.
