WUNRN
FATHER & DAUGHTER ALLIANCE -
FADA - IN INDIA
FATHERS BOND WITH DAUGHTERS TO
ENROLL AND KEEP GIRLS IN SCHOOL
FADA is also establishing 5 fathers’ associations for daughters’ advancement in 5 sectors/slums of Delhi. These fathers associations will meet at least monthly and fathers will be encouraged to interact with their daughters and discover their value and dignity. Fathers will also hold each other accountable for keeping their daughters in school.
India - Father & Daughter Program for Girls' Education & Brighter Future
Priya was always special. A very bright child, a talented singer, with a sweet, open disposition. Today, on a sunlit morning at the lawns of the Chief Minister of Delhi, Ms. Sheila Dikshit’s official residence, Priya’s father, maybe for the first time, also realized this fact.
They were among 20 pairs of fathers and daughters who were there to participate in the launch of the Deepalaya, FADA(Father and Daughter Alliance) and the Govt. of Delhi joint initiative to bring girls back to school through the involvement and support of their respective fathers. It is a unique program that recognizes the fundamental role of the father’s viewpoint in the way that a girl child is treated, and in the opportunities that she is provided.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. T.K. Mathew introduced the program and said that the foremost issue to be addressed is that of mindset- the mindset that conditions society to limit girls to a purely domestic sphere. Towards addressing this issue, he pointed out that Deepalaya has been practicing what can be termed “positive discrimination” for many years. For every boy admitted at a Deepalaya school, at least one girl has to be enrolled as well. As a result, out of the 16000 children in Deepalaya’s various programs, more than 60% are girls.
Giving the background to the present initiative, he said that Deepalaya and FADA had come together because of their common aim of securing a better future for the girl child. The campaign had been given shape over the past year with the Chief Minister also committing the government’s partnership to the initiative. At the start, 1141 families were involved in an extensive door-to-door survey at Sanjay Colony, Okhla Phase II. It was found that 218 girls in the age group of 4-16 do not go to school at all. These were figures from just 9 of the 32 blocks of the colony. Clearly, there is no dearth of students, and with a change in the mindset of the fathers, the aim of extending the campaign to 100 girls by December and 1000 by March 31, 2010 is definitely achievable.
Outlining the campaign’s aim for its pilot group of students, Mr. Mathews said that all the girls had already started studying at the Deepalaya School at Sanjay Colony and were being prepared to join the mainstream education system. Deepalaya’s vision would be to insure that in a few years time, there is no girl child in the region who has never been to school. Mr. Mathew then commended the fathers, who were, along with their daughters, pioneers- the first to set an example. The fathers and daughters stood up to a round of applause, which was followed by a small performance by some of the children. First Priya stood up to the mike and looking at everyone present, said in a strong clear voice, “I am a girl, and I can do anything I set my mind to”. As everyone cheered, Priya, accompanied by Jyoti and Sudha sang these simple but moving lines:
“Padhna, Khana, khelna
Aur Chahiye Pyar.
Hum Beti Hain, Koi Gair Nahin.”
“We need to study, to eat, to play, and we need your love.
We are no strangers, we are your daughters.”
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