Chandigarh,16 May:“ABHA” the college magazine of Govt. College for Girls, Sec-11, Chandigarh was released by Mrs. Raji P. Srivastava, Special Secretary Finance and Director Higher Education, Chandigarh Administration today. College magazines have generally been considered as an in-house document showcasing students’ creativity and literary skills with some colour added here and there and some photographs highlighting round the year activities from the campus. But the potential of magazine as a carrier of social messages is an idea which has been largely unexplored.
GCG-11 has taken a lead in this regard and has dedicated its annual magazine 2007-2008, to the campaign of ‘save the girl child’ in the city beautiful. Continuing with its commitment and resolve to be in the forefront of any such campaigns of immense social significance, the title page of the magazine has been captioned with the message ‘save the girl child, save the future’. Besides, the back page has a resolve message which exhorts everybody to stand up against the multi-level discriminatory practices against the girl child in our society. The magazine also has articles highlighting issues of critical importance such as women empowerment and gender inequality in society etc.
Mrs. Promila Kaushal, Principal of the college invited the attention of the gathering to the growing menace of female foeticide. Addressing the audience the Chief Guest Mrs. Raji P. Srivastava showed her concern that this evil is prevalent not only in the rural backward pockets, but even the educated urban people also indulge in this act. She emphasised that we all have to become a part of the solution and contribute for changing the mindset of the society. Student and teacher community has to go beyond the content of the syllabus and prepare for the larger examination of life, she believed.
That 3,500 copies of the magazine are going to reach 3500 houses and at least as many minds—is an incredible reach as far as the impact of the magazine is concerned in taking these messages to the outer world. Female foeticide is a blot on our claim to be a civilised society. No channel, no avenue, no forum can be left unexplored to disseminate the message against this barbaric practice. An attempt has been made through ABHA. Let’s come forward and break the silence of conformism to patriarchal dictates to save our daughters.