Delegates at the preparatory meet at Hotel Patliputra Ashok in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Jan. 22: Thirteen-year-old Sudha Kumari from Cheria-Bariarpur constituency wants the state government to construct a high school in her village so that she can continue with her studies. Today, at the inaugural session of the two-day-long preparatory meet for Tuesday’s Kishori Sansad, the Class VIII student was happy to get an opportunity to voice her demand.

Sudha was not alone. As many as 234 representatives from various constituencies were present at the meet. The remaining nine representatives would arrive by tomorrow. On Tuesday, all of them would put forward to the Legislative Council a charter of demands on issues concerning girl children.

Sudha said: “Our constituency does not have a single high school. I want to continue my studies. But in the absence of a high school, I would have to discontinue my education. Many girl students in my constituency had to drop out midway as their parents did not allow them to leave the village for higher studies. I would urge the state government at the Kishore Sansad to open a high school in our area.”

Rashmi Rekha, a 13-year-old representative from Sheohar constituency, had a wish similar to Sudha. “Our constituency does not have a single college. How can the women and girls in our constituency be empowered with if they don’t have proper education? I want the state government to open a college in our constituency,” she said.

Kiran Ghai, chairperson, Child Protection and Women Empowerment Committee, Legislative Council, said: “Girls from all 243 constituencies will take part in the Kishori Sansad, scheduled at the Bihar Legislative Council on January 24,. The girls have been selected by a six-member panel constituted by the district education officers concerned. They will discuss various issues such as female foeticide, girls’ need for education and child marriage. The representatives, who will also share the problems they face at home, school or constituency, will put forward their charter of demands on the concluding day of the preparatory meeting (Monday) and then read it out at Kishori Sansad on January 24.”

Twelve-year-old Tamanna Parveen from Sherghati constituency said every girl should try to achieve her dream. “The fact that girls are empowered today is clear from the fact that we are about to take part in the Kishori Sansad. But still we cannot deny the fact that society continues to ill-treat girls. So we have to come up with concrete suggestions to present at Kishori Sansad that can help improve the condition of the girl child in society,” said Parveen.

“The Child Protection and Women Empowerment Committee will submit a report on the demands of these representatives at Kishori Sansad. We want to draw the government’s attention towards issues concerning adolescent girls,” said Ghai.