Village girl bags international award in US

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Mar 16 (UNI) Eighteen-year-old Janabai Gite from Devgaon village of Paithan tehsil of this district has received the 'Investing in Women' award in Washington, DC.

The award was presented to her on March eight, the International Women's Day.

Addressing the media persons after reaching here from the US today, Janabai said her first air travel and interaction with the world's most developed nation's women has enhanced her confidence.

She was selected from among the 4,000 girls undergoing training in life skills at centres run by the Institute of Health Management (IHMP), an NGO, working for the cause of women empowerment in this district.

Janabai received the award, consisting of a trophy from the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) at a ceremony in John F Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts in Washington.

She has appeared for the higher secondary examination (HSC) this year and intends to carry on her education further.

IHMP director Dr Ashok Dyalchand said the average age of marriage among the girls in Marathwada was 14 and 14.5 in 1998 when they started their special programme towards empowerment of women. Now the average age has advanced to 17 years, he added.

Janabai said, in the US, she learnt how men there share traditional responsibilities with women, which is not seen in villages here despite efforts by social activists.

She said she would utilise her experiences to change the life of girls and women in her village.

"I could not even think of speaking before an audience of a couple of persons before my admission to the life-skills course.

But I could do it in front of 1,000 people in Washington which itself shows that right approach can change one's life," she added.

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