South Asians take part Save girl child rally in Shimla

Girls from various communities gathered here on Monday to spread awareness about the need to stop atrocities against the girl child.

The Charu Foundation organised the rally with an objective to empower women and to popularise the various folk dances among the youth in India and across the globe.

Among the participants were a couple of girls from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mexico, South Columbia, Jordan and Uzbekistan.

The event was held during the annual Girls Folk Dance Competition staged in the city.

This gala five-day colourful cultural event ends tomorrow.

Kapoor Bhan of the Charu Foundation said efforts must be made to stop female infanticide and the growing addiction to drugs in Himachal and Punjab.

Bangladeshi participant Meherab said that she was honoured to be able to participate in this event of great social significance.

Maharashtrian participant Trisha Ghosh said: "Participants come from Punjab and Haryana, which has the highest cases of female infanticide, and, they have come here to showcase their talent. This is a major achievement for us."

Women's safety in India has been in the spotlight following the brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old student on a moving bus in New Delhi in December, which led thousands of Indians to take to streets in protest. The woman died of her injuries two weeks later in a Singapore hospital.