Girls

UNAIDS releases short film 'Ghotul' to mark International Day of Girl Child

Marking the 'International Day of the Girl Child', UNAIDS has released Ghotul, a short film inspired by indigenous Gond traditions that reimagines conversations around gender, sexuality, and equality among adolescents. Directed by Shashanka Bob' Chaturvedi, the 12-minute film draws from the Gond Muria tradition of 'ghotuls' -- communal learning spaces where elders guide adolescents through open discussions about love, intimacy, and responsibility. Far from being taboo, these practices embody egalitarian values that promote dignity, awareness, and mutual respect. By knowing the facts and educating young people about their sexual health, we can help them feel safe and stay safe, said UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima. It is written by author and gender practitioner Shruti Johri, conceptualised by advertising executive Swati Bhattacharya, and shot by award-winning cinematographer Tassaduq Hussain, known for "Omkara" and "Kaminey". The film features Indira Tiwari of "Serious Me

Despite ban, girl child marriage persists, villages drive higher share

Girl child marriage in total weddings remained above two per cent in the country, barring in Covid-hit year (2020)

Jharkhand's JAC Class 12 results: Girls lead in science and commerce stream

Girls have outshone boys in the Class 12 examination of the Science and Commerce stream, the results of which were announced by the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) on Saturday. The JAC announced the results in the presence of the state Education minister Ramdas Soren. JAC secretary Jayant Mishra said 79.26 per cent of students in science and 91.92 per cent of students in commerce passed the examination. In science, 80.53 per cent of girls passed the exams, while boys' pass percentage was 78.47 per cent. Similarly, 95.05 per cent of girls cleared the examination in the commerce stream, while 89.61 per cent of boys passed it, the official said. Ankita Dutta from Government High School, Govindpur, emerged as a state topper in the science stream with 95.4 per cent marks, while Reshmi Kumari from St Xavier's Girls Inter College, Chaibasa, became the state topper with 95.2 per cent marks in the commerce stream. Mishra said out of 98,634 students who appeared for the science stream ...

Increased screen time found to raise depression risk in teen girls: Study

Excessive screen time can affect one's sleep, thereby increasing risk of depressive symptoms -- especially among teenage girls, according to a new study. Studies have consistently linked use of screens and devices with a poorer quality of sleep and a higher chance of mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. However, researchers from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet said that sleep problems and depression can often coincide, and the direction of these links has been unclear. For the study, findings of which are published in the journal 'PLOS Global Public Health', the team tracked 4,810 Swedish students aged 12-16, collecting data on sleep quality and quantity, depressive symptoms, and screen usage over the course of a year. An increased screen time led to deteriorated sleep within three months, impacting both the duration and quality of sleep, the study found. Screen time was also found to postpone sleep times towards later hours -- disrupting multiple aspects of th

NE states lag behind even as India improves girls' toilet facilities

This comes even as the country has increased girls' toilet coverage in rural schools from 66.4 per cent in 2018 to 72 per cent in 2024

National Girl Child Day 2025: History, significance, wishes and more

National Girl Child Day is celebrated every year on January 24 to spread awareness about girls' rights, education, health and safety. Here's all you need to know

International Day of the Girl Child 2024: History, significance, and more

International Day of the Girl Child is observed every year on October 11. This day was established by the UN to focus on gender equality, education, and healthcare, advocating for girls' right

Over 31000 women went missing in Madhya Pradesh; 28 girls go missing daily

In the last three years, over 31,000 women reportedly went missing in Madhya Pradesh, according to official data

Google celebrates International Women's Day 2024, depicting gender equality

Google Doodle is also celebrating International Women's Day 2024 commemorating women's economic, cultural, social and political achievements

International Women's Day 2024: What's the theme for this year?

International Women's Day 2024 is marked every year on March 8. This day signifies the opportunity to observe equality in all sectors of society

Gender preference

Girl child continues to face discrimination

MP High Court requests Centre to reduce women's consent age to 16 from 18

The Gwalior bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court has requested the Centre to reduce the consent age of females to 16, observing that the present age of 18 has disturbed the fabric of society as injustice is going on with adolescent boys. The court's request came on June 27 through an order quashing a First Information Report (FIR) against a man who was accused of repeatedly raping a minor girl and impregnating her in 2020. Nowadays, every male or female near the age of 14 years, due to social media awareness and easily accessible internet connectivity, is getting puberty at an early age, the judge said. The court said boys and girls get attracted to each other owing to early puberty, which is ultimately resulting in consensual physical relationships, read the order. 'I request the Government of India to think over the matter for reducing the age of prosecutrix (female complainant) from 18 to 16 years as earlier before (IPC) amendments (were made) so that injustice should be redressed

Normalcy restored in Uttarakhand's Purola after 2 caught kidnapping a minor

Normalcy has been restored in Purola in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district which witnessed tension after two people from minority community were allegedly caught kidnapping a minor girl, police said

100,000 girls 0f 11-14 age brought back to mainstream education: Report

About one lakh adolescent girls in the 11-14 age group who dropped out of schools have been brought back to the mainstream education, government sources said on Monday. Over the years there has been a significant decline in the numbers reported by states of drop-out girls in the age group of 11-14 years, they said. In 2013-14, states and Union territories put the figure at 1.14 crore. It came down to five lakh in 2020-21, to 3.8 lakh in 2021-22 and finally to about one lakh in July last year. The drop in number reflects that many fake beneficiaries and wrong entries have been removed, the sources said. "These one lakh girls have since been brought back to the mainstream education and then the scheme (for adolescent girls) was revised," a senior official, who did not wish to be named, said. The Scheme for Adolescent Girls in the age group of 11-14 years have been discontinued and a revised scheme has been introduced and subsumed under the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 Mission.

Pak: One killed, 7 injured after police officer opens fire at girls school

At least one girl student was killed and seven injured on Tuesday after a police officer on duty at a school in Pakistan's restive northwestern province opened fire outside the institution, officials said causing panic and chaos among students and teachers. The incident took place at the school for girls in the Swat Vally in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after school hours as students were getting ready to depart in their vehicles. According to District Police Officer (DPO) Shafiullah Gandapur, the constable, identified as Alam Khan, was arrested immediately after the attack and a first information report (FIR) was registered against him, Dawn newspaper reported. A special investigation team has been formed to make further investigation into the matter. I assure everyone that strict legal punishment will be given to the culprit, he told media persons. The sudden sound of gunshots sent shockwaves throughout the school premises, causing panic and chaos among students, teachers, and sta

Rajasthan plans to distribute scooters to 30,000 meritorious girl students

According to the scheme, if all the girl students apply for an e-scooter, the state government will spend around Rs 390 crore on this in FY24

30% of minority seats earmarked for girls, Smriti Irani tells Rajya Sabha

Smriti said, govt has undertaken several steps to encourage education among the children from minority communities to empower them both educationally as well as for their socio-economic welfare

Isro launches 3 satellites; including one developed by 750 girl students

AzaadiSAT sends message of 'Namaste World: From the G20 presidency' after reaching orbit

Taliban deny entry of female students in campus for not wearing Burqa

The Afghan girls were forced to remain outside the entry gate as the students were not following the norms of the Taliban's preferred attires, Khaama Press reported.

Here's the data on India's 'missing baby girls' and the likely consequences

Indian Muslims also now have a sex ratio at birth (106 boys per 100 girls) that is close to the natural norm seen in India prior to the introduction of prenatal testing