Girls take over traffic signals to mark Int'l day of Girl

In a bid to draw attention towards gender discrimination, around hundred girls from marginalised communities today manned traffic for two hours at multiple locations here.
The European Union in collaboration with NGO Plan India commemorated 'International Day of the Girl child', which is being celebrated in more than fifty nations worldwide.
The girls dressed in pink T-shirts displayed signages and posters on gender equality at Rajpath, Mandi House and Windsor Circle among others during the event.
"Ensuring that girls feel respected and valued in society is the first step to breaking the barriers of discrimination. To empower girls and women is not just our moral duty, it is also solution to some of the greatest challenges we face in the quest for development and peace.

"I believe investing in girls is investing in peace and prosperity," said Tomasz Kozlowski, European Union ambassador to India.
While elaborating on the need for awareness about gender equality, Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India said, "Securing girls rights is a critical social justice issue of our times. It is our responsibility to create an environment that will enable every girl to fulfil her dreams".

Dengle called for better working environment for girls and their presence in spaces where they are rarely heard.
"Occupying spaces where girls are rarely seen or heard, will help highlight the challenges they face and represent their power and determination to build a more equal world," Dengle added.

Besides manning traffic intersections, girls have also taken over important roles in corporate houses, media publications and radio stations for a day during the last few days.
Achieving gender equality is one of the global goals that were agreed upon by world leaders in 2015 aimed at transforming the world by 2030.