12th October 2021
Online Event at Zoom
To mark the International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC), an event themed Digital Generation: How Different, How Vulnerable was held on 12th October 2021. The day is observed globally on 11th of October and the theme for this year was Digital Generation. Our Generation. Sriram Haridass, Country Representative, UNFPA India, and. Marit M Strand, Counsellor and Head of Cooperation, at the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi were the guests of honour. The event was live streamed on youtube and garnered 281 views in addition to the online Zoom attendees.
The link to view is: https://bit.ly/3fqOSt4
Through the second year of COVID-19 pandemic, digital platforms appear to have become a permanent feature in our lives for learning, business and connecting. However, globally the gender gap amongst internet users grew from 11 per cent in 2013 to 17 per cent in 2019; it gallops to nearly 43% in the least developed countries. This difference extends to device ownership as well as access to tech- related skills.
The event repertoire this year, brought together an eclectic mix of performances, films and conversations with those who are addressing the gender bias and stepping into the digital world with fresh ideas and taking it to larger female audiences, whether rural or urban.
The highlights were three sets of conversations and a puppet show:
• The founders of Bhannat Shala and Alka Dupkar. Bipin Chandra Chaugule and Dr. Vedvati Jogi are the creators of a web-based radio project Bhannat Shala. Run by the children for the children, 'A Wonderful School' ‘Bannat Shala’ is broadcast in Marathi and Hindi every week and discusses a wide range of topics imparting information, guidance and counselling while encouraging a healthy exchange of ideas.
• Indu Harikumar an artist, a writer and an Instagram influencer, and Gargi Ranade. Indu Harikumar uses Instagram to create a space for conversations and experience-sharing on gender and sexuality through people-powered, art projects on social media. Amongst these, for example, are #notestomylovers and #identitty.
• With Archita Srivastav, Sheel Motial-Varshney and Garvit Singh young students of NimbleQ, who showcased their digital innovations which are developed to help businesses and social causes. NimbleQ is an organisation that nurtures young minds aged 5 years through 14 years to challenge assumptions, innovate and address problems. It gets them future ready by imparting Technological, Business and Entrepreneurship skills as well as Financial Literacy.
• A puppet show, Peehu aur Internet Ke Daanav, by Kathanika, a storytelling platform. The puppet show addressed the problems of online child abuse. The puppet show is available on the Youtube channel of Population First.
The Laadli Song by Suneeta Roa and other audio-visual creations by Population First were also played interspersing the discussions.