Mysore/Mysuru: Senior Civil Judge and Member-Secretary of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) B.G. Dinesh said: “Instead of according special position to girl children at home and society, it is better to treat them on par with boys.”

Judge Dinesh was speaking after flagging off an awareness jatha against harassment of women, organised by DLSA in association with Rural Literacy and Health Programme (RLHP) and Dhwani Mahila Okkuta in front of Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple recently.

“Special treatment should not be given to girl children. If girls are provided special privileges since childhood, it will create a feeling of inequality among boys and girls at home. Instead, they should be given equal opportunities,” Judge Dinesh added.

The Central and State Governments have launched several programmes for the safety of women, along with special laws related to property rights, Harassment of Women (Prohibition) Act and Right to Alimony under various sections of law. The rules have been framed in the Constitution to ensure that women should not be discriminated on the basis of gender. The Constitution vouches for providing opportunities to women on par with men, the Judge said.

“By making use of various facilities provided by the Government, women should be financially empowered and to achieve this, education is essential. Earlier, the literacy rate involving girl children was less, which has improved now. In this wake, everybody should compulsorily educate their girl children and refrain from conducting child marriages,” he advised.

In the present situation, women are progressing in every field and are working on par with men. There should not be any discrimination at work place too and women should come up utilising all the facilities provided by the Government, said Judge Dinesh.

Director of RLHP Saraswathi said: “We have been working to safeguard the interest of women and children for the past several years. Besides, we are also working towards educating the children of slum areas.”

The jatha was followed by a main event at Rangacharlu Memorial Town Hall. Secretary of RLHP V.K. Jose inaugurated the programme. Theatre personality Rameshwari Verma presented her views on                                              ‘Women Empowerment.’

President of Dhwani Mahila Okkuta Vasantha presided. President of Slum Dwellers Federation Das and others were present.