Bhubaneswar: A mime on gender discrimination by Lord Jagannath Mission School and College of Nursing, Rasulgarh, which revealed the stark reality of girls facing discrimination became a highlight of a youth conclave hosted in the city.
The participants conveyed a number of strong messages without saying a word.
Students of KIIT University staged a dance drama on evolution of woman describing how the new-age woman could destroy a person with evil intentions, but shower him with lots of love, if he wins her heart with reciprocation, mutual trust and respect. They also staged a street play titled "Inshaniyat'' that depicted how, in the name of religion, people fight mindless wars putting the motherland in danger and distress.
Five-hundred students from several universities and colleges of Bhubaneswar took part in the youth conclave, organised jointly by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) and the United Nations Population Fund. The youth conclave was a part of a youth connect programme and marked the culmination of the yearlong activities organised across 77 colleges of the city.
Under the youth connect programme, a series of activities were organised to encourage youth to promote healthy behaviour, gender equality and safe campuses.
"Young people have immense potential and their energy can be channelised for the benefit of the people of Bhubaneswar," said the state programme coordinator of the United Nations Population Fund Deepa Prasad.
She also said that the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation was the first civic body to take up a citywide initiative across colleges and universities to connect youth on urban development issues and recognise young people's role to improve urban living.
General Manager, operations, BSCL, Bijaya Kumar Swain said that BSCL was taking a number of initiatives for strengthening the social component of smart city and youth connect is one of the important initiative for social development process.
SK Mishra, general manager, technology, from BSCL stressed on the need of participation of youth in making gender equitable society.
