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Kamod’s Nameplate Girls

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The door to Sarpanch Sudarshan Kumar’s home in Kamod village

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Rio and Dangal have energised and mobilised Meri Beti Meri Pehchan, a campaign for gender equality in the badlands of Haryana

By Karan Kaushik

It’s a hazy and cold afternoon in Kamod, a village in the Charkhi Dadri district of Haryana, about 90 km from the national capital. A tractor offers me a lift to the sarpanch’s house from the spot on the highway where I have been dropped by a state bus.

Buffalos seem to be in a lazy mood as they relish their freshly cut fodder. A snake-charmer and his pets are entertaining the village folk. Kids clap and smartly click pictures of the show on their mobiles. While tradition still rules, this tiny village is determined to usher in a significant social change—that of equal respect, freedom and opportunity for girls and boys, men and women.

And for this, they have taken the important first step—nameplates on the houses here will sport the name of the eldest daughter, followed by those of his mother and father, under the Meri Beti Meri Pehchan campaign, which owes much of its momentum to the Aamir Khan starrer wrestling biopic—Dangal.

Now, Haryana has always had this image of a state unfair, even misogynistic, towards its women. Having one of the worst sex ratios, it has been witness to rapes, honour killings, cultural oppression of women, and more. But social change has been taking place, incrementally as well as radically, quite inexorably, with the rise of the Phogat sisters, Rohtak sisters and the Selfie with Your Daughter campaign, and now this, and Kamod is an apt example.

Shruti Kumar, daughter of Sudarshan

Shruti Kumar, daughter of Sudarshan

Meet nine-year-old Shruti Kumar, who studies in Third C. The little lady is excited to have ‘occupied’ the nameplate of her house. But it is the excitement of a child. Her father Sudarshan Kumar, the village sarpanch, however, shares with us the rationale of the move. He also lets us know how the campaign will pan out.

The gram panchayat has started with houses belonging to 20 anganwadi workers first and plans to expand it to include 500 anganwadi workers’ homes.

“Our village has taken this initiative because we saw that in the Rio Olympics, it was our women who saved the day,” says Kumar. “In our own village a few days ago, a girl named Preeti won a prize for making a documentary about legal literacy on female foeticides. Our daughters have also won first position in sports at state level,” he recounted, adding, significantly, “We, too, here recognise that women are not far behind than men in any field.”

It was Aamir Khan’s blockbuster Dangal that inspired many in the village though Kumar adds that the campaign had been planned before the film’s release. Says he: “The movie made us think, if we can use our daughters to do all the daily chores, why can’t we give them a chance to prove themselves in other fields?”

“Since the Sarpanch has initiated this campaign, everyone is excited and motivated,” says Jagdish Chahar, a village landlord.

Rajwani, Poonam and Sujata pose for a photograph

Rajwani, Poonam and Sujata pose for a photograph

Rajwanti Devi, who is in her late 50s, is one of the anganwadi workers whose home sports her granddaughter’s name on the door and who has played an active role in the campaign. “We want to set an example for other villages,” says she. She, too, admits, that the “story of the Balali sisters” inspired her and her daughter-in-law Poonam Devi, Sujata’s proud mother.

Cinema is a powerful catalyst for social change and Kamod’s story proves it. Having an impressive child sex ratio (0-6 years) of 1,300 girls against 1,000 boys (When the panchayat was formed, members had decided they will honor those homes where a girl was born during Independence Day and Republic Day, says Kumar), Kamod village has around 450 houses and a population of 2,100. It is 15km from Balali village, where wrestler sisters Geeta and Babita live with their father Mahavir Singh Phogat.

The man who started it all, Mahavir Phogat of Balali village

The man who started it all, Mahavir Phogat of Balali village

Mahavir Phogat told India Legal: “This is a great initiative. It will set a good example for the rest of the villages so that they can give their daughters the real honour that they deserve. Through this initiative, girls will claim their identity. When such initiatives are started, it also gives the girls a chance to remain in news and be treated equally also by the media.” In chaste Haryanvi, the proud father added: “Dekho bhai nameplate pe naam aaega to charche to honge hi. Isse badi kya baat ho sakti hai bacchio ke liye? (When their names will appear on the nameplates, it will definitely bring much-needed attention to the girls, and what could be better?)”

Manju Rani travels daily to the city to attend her BA first year classes. All she wants is employment and autonomy before she gets married, she says. Then there is Vandana, an eighth grader, who wants to be a doctor because she likes studying. The teen feels that Dangal is a “wonderful film which left a mark” on her mind.

The village struggles with its own share of problems.  Lack of an internet connection, no hospital and no playground (eventhough the panchayat has purchased sports gear for youngsters) are some of them.

Sarpanch Kumar and his team are working on these. As of now, they are getting a new sewerage system laid. A playground is next on their agenda.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Wrestler Bajrang Punia suspended by National Anti Doping Body after failing to give urine sample

Bajrang Punia, who won the country a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, is likely to be barred from participation in the selection trials that are scheduled for later this month. No Indian has yet won an Olympic quota in the 65kg category.

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Wrestler Bajrang Punia was suspended indefinitely by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), which could have an impact on his eligibility to compete in the upcoming Paris Olympics. Sources claim that on March 10, Punia neglected to submit a urine sample for the Sonepat selection trials, which is why NADA issued the order barring him from taking part in any events going forward.

With subject to paragraph 4:1:2 below and in accordance with article 7.4 of the NADR 2021, Bajrang Punia has been immediately provisionally suspended from participation in any competition or activity prior to the final decision reached at a hearing in this matter, according to an official release from NADA dated April 23.

Punia was in the forefront of accusations of sexual harassment made against former BJP MP and president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, along with a number of other elite wrestlers, such as Olympians Sakshi Malik and Vinesh.

The star wrestler, who earned the country’s bronze medal in the Olympics in Tokyo, will probably not be allowed to take part in the selection trials later this month due to his suspension in light of the allegations. In the 65kg division, no Indian has yet to win an Olympic quota.

India’s Sujeet Kalkal will compete in the World Qualifiers, which begin on May 9 in Istanbul.

The notice of suspension was sent not to the federation recognized by United World Wrestling (UWW), but to the now-defunct ad hoc committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

Punia rejected the directive of the drug control officer, alleging that NADA officials had not yet addressed his concerns. A few months before, Punia had uploaded a video purporting to have expired dope-collecting equipment.

The dope-collecting officer’s report states that he was told that his refusal would result in a warning for violating anti-doping regulations, but he still left.

Punia was asked to provide a written explanation by May 7th for his denial of providing a urine sample and supporting evidence.

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Entertainment

Kareena Kapoor appointed UNICEF India national ambassador, says it’s an emotional day for her

Kareena Kapoor expressed her happiness after she was appointed UNICEF India National Ambassador.

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Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor, has been named the National Ambassador of Unicef India. In 2014, she became the organization’s first Celebrity Advocate. Kareena was driven to tears during her address onstage at her recent appointment ceremony. Adding yet another significant success to Kapoor’s already impressive resume is this new responsibility.

Kareena showed her appreciation and joy at being named the National Ambassador for Unicef India in an Instagram post on May 4. She underlined how committed she is to protecting children’s rights and making sure every child has an equitable future. Kareena thought back on her ten years of working with Unicef India, calling it enlightening and brightening.

Taking to Instagram, Kareena wrote, it is an emotional day for her. Being named the National Ambassador for UNICEF India is an honour for her, she added. The actor mentioned in her note that over the past ten years, working with UNICEF India has been incredibly instructive and enriching. She said she is happy of the work they’ve accomplished and she is reaffirming my commitment to speak out in favor of children’s rights and an equal future for all of them, she added.

The Crew  actor emphasized the value of defending children’s rights upon her appointment, pointing out that they are the next generation. She committed to utilizing her position to speak up for children who are at risk, concentrating on matters such as gender equality, education, and early childhood development. Kareena restated her conviction that every child is entitled to an equal opportunity and a promising future.

Regarding work front, Kareena is now enjoying the success of Crew, in which she starred alongside Tabu and Kriti Sanon.

Under the direction of Rajesh A. Krishnan, Crew centers on the journeys of three employed women against the backdrop of the aviation sector. In addition, Diljit Dosanjh, Kapil Sharma, Rajesh Sharma, Saswata Chatterjee, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda feature in the film.

She will be next seen in Hansal Mehta’s The Buckingham Murders in the upcoming months. She will be also seen in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Lok Sabha election 2024: PM Modi to hold roadshow in Ayodhya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will offer prayers and hold a roadshow in Ayodhya.

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The 2024 Lok Sabha Elections are now in progress across the country, with the first two stages having concluded on April 19 and 26. An important step in the electoral process is coming up on May 7, which is the date of the third phase. As the peak of campaigning approaches, political parties are stepping up their efforts to win over voters. Today, as part of election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is will travel to Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, where he will lead a roadshow and offer prayers at the Ram Temple.

On May 7, elections will be held for 94 Lok Sabha seats spread across 12 states and Union Territories.

The INDIA bloc and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA are the two main political groups that will compete in the 2024 Lok Sabha Election. The NDA has the BJP, the PMK, the JDU, and other political parties as members, whereas the INDIA bloc is made up of political parties like the Congress, the AAP, the TMC, etc.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has been the subject of a complaint about his nomination from the Raebareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Regarding Rahul Gandhi’s nationality, his recent defamation conviction, and how the Election Commission may accept his nomination, the complaint raises some red flags.

However, in a meeting with young people impacted by the Agnipath Scheme on Saturday in the national capital, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that the National Security Advisor and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office, rather than the Indian Army, created the program.

Gandhi assured the youth that this program would end and the army’s previous recruitment procedure would be reinstated should the INDIA alliance win the elections.

With echoes of abki baar 400 paar, the NDA is aiming for its third consecutive term in this general election. In contrast, the opposition INDIA alliance is running an economical campaign, pledging cash handouts to women and MSP for farmers in its manifesto.

On June 4, the results of the Lok Sabha election will be announced after the votes have been counted.

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