Souhrida clubs set to empower girl students

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A ‘no’ at the right time could save a lot of girls from falling into the wrong side of life. Taking the message to Plus-II girls in the state, the Education Department is planning to give them emulative female models who could inspire them to take on life in a positive manner. The programme ‘feminine power’ is aimed to strengthen girls by urging them to say ‘no’ to abuses against them.It is the Career Guidance and Adolescence Cell under the Higher Secondary Directorate which has envisaged the new programme to be implemented through ‘souhrida clubs’ in schools. A group of girls belonging to various schools would be thrown together and two or more eminent female personalities, who have made their mark in society and in their respective fields, would talk to them on the challenges they have faced and overcome.The idea is to indirectly speak to the girls on why they should reject tendencies that lure them to untoward experiences in life. And why it is the right age to decide what they want with life.To begin with, in the last week of December the first of such a feminine gathering would be held in Pathanamthitta district where sports personalities such as Shiny Wilson and Anju Bobby George would meet the girls and share their experiences with them.Female personalities from all walks of life, literature, politics, cinema and social activism, would meet the groups in different sessions to be held across the state.It is the alarming rise in abuses against girls, in the school and at home, that has prompted the department to think of ways to equip girls mentally.  “Often, the girls are afraid to react and the fear factor is what makes them hide the abuse against them. Souhrida club is a friendly group and friends are who we confide in. That is why we decided to hold such gatherings where they could look up to the guests as models they could emulate and build up a vigour to say ‘no’ to violations against them,” said Dr S Naseeb, state coordinator of the Career Guidance and Adolescence Cell.