First-year political science student Mamta Kumari speaks on gender discrimination at the competition while the judges mark her, at Magadh Mahila College on Wednesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Sept. 7: Gender discrimination is deeply rooted in society, and like charity, it begins at home. Mamta Kumari, a first-year student of Magadh Mahila College, made this point at a public speaking competition organised today by the political science department of the institute.

Mamta added: “Where can we not see gender discrimination? A girl is not even given the right to perform the shradh (final rites) of her father. Girls are like the buds of flowers. Let them blossom and climb the heights.”

She also said: “Their achievements belong not only to them but also to the whole society.”

Mamta was one of the 30 participants at the competition. She was declared the winner.

The contest began with Shashi Sharma, the head of the department, elucidating on the topic “Gender discrimination: Female foeticide and its challenges”.

“Our society is progressing in science and technology at a great speed. However, at the same time, we are losing our humanitarian nature,” said Sharma.

She added: “Women have been sexually and mentally harassed at different places. We need women to be aware of how to protect themselves. This competition has been organised to make students aware of their potential and their rights.”

Some of the speakers had suggestions on how to fight and overcome gender discrimination. They felt that the primary manifestation of this was the evil tradition of dowry.

“Education is the key to solving this problem. An educated girl will inculcate good values in her children. However, before that we need to get rid of the tradition of dowry. This is the cause behind gender discrimination. Girls have to take the initiative to protest against this evil tradition,” said Sarita Kumari, another participant.

Other speakers said that parents, too, often discriminate between their sons and daughters.

Jyoti Kumari, who stood third in the competition, said: “There is a common feeling among people that a daughter will not take care of her parents after she is married but a son will. However, it is often found that a daughter continues to perform her duty towards her parents even after she has gone to live with her in-laws.”

The speakers were judged by three teachers of the college and two guests — Renu Ranjan, the head of department, sociology, Aruna Kumari, a teacher of Hindi, Archana Jaiswal, a teacher of English, journalist Ganga Prasad and Anil Sinha, a teacher of political science at the College of Commerce.

Ranjan said: “Gender discrimination is rooted in society. It is all pervasive and people often don’t realise that they are victims or perpetrators of it.”

Condemning the practice of female foeticide, Ranjan said: “It is like snatching away human rights from a woman. She also has a right to be born and to live.”