Members of various Dwarka-based organisations pose for photo during the press conference
As more groups and organisations joined hands for the One Billion Rising event in Dwarka, the number of such groups has risen to 21. They have formed Dwarka Action for Gender Equality (D-AGE), a group of social organisations geared towards, as the name suggests, gender equality.
D-AGE comprises of Age Well Holistic Care, Choti si khushi, City Spidey, Dwarka City, Dwarka Collective, Dwarka Forum, Dwarka Parents Association, Dwarka Progressive Club, Federation of CGHS Dwarka Ltd, Helping Human, Janasamskriti, Mission Clean and Safe Dwarka, Pahal, Pehchan, Sahaj Sambhav, Sahas, Setu, Dwarka Hello Moms; Rationalism, Secularism and Transparency Appeal Foundation; Rise Foundation, and Mission and Voice of Motherland.
At a press conference held on February 10 at Plaza Park in Sector 6, Leena Dabiru, a member of Dwarka Collective, said, “The first OBR event in Dwarka was held in 2013, and then in 2014, 2015 and 2016. This year many events are being held in the run up to the OBR event. A video statement competition called #IWillRise has been organised for residents. Best videos will get trophies. Children have been encouraged to paint on the theme of women empowerment which will be exhibited at the venue. Stalls will also be put up at the venue to sensitise people about various forms of violence.”
According to D-AGE, the chief guest at the event will be Kamala Bhasin, an eminent social activist and writer. The India coordinator of OBR will also attend the event along with Abha Bhaiyya, a member of Jagori (an organisation working for women’s rights).
The event is scheduled to be held on February 12 from 9 am at Maxfort School, Dwarka.
Members of various groups and organisations based in Dwarka during the press conference in Sector 6 on February 10
Organisers of OBR said that the event will begin with a street play on women empowerment by Kamla Nehru College. It will be followed by a welcome speech by Deepa Kumar, director of Maxfort School, and a group dance performance by students on a poem penned by Gauhar Raza, an eminent poet. It would be sung by the teachers of the school. There will also be a poetry session by Manju Dubey, Ritu T Khulbe and Akanksha (residents of Dwarka); and a singing session by Ideal Youth Club.
Chhoti si Khushi has prepared a group dance performance on a medley celebrating women achievers. This will be followed by a skit by Dwarka’s women residents on a popular song Bekhauf and a dance performance by father-daughter duo Pathik and Manoli Arora.
Amreen, a member of Pehchaan, will sing the song O re chiraiya. Arnab, a Std 9 student, will play the guitar and sing the song Imagine. Leena Dabiru and Shabnam, a member of Dwarka Collective, will narrate four stories about women who faced violence. Women members of Missionaries and Voice of Motherland are set to give a dance performance while college students from Sahyadri Apartments, Sector 12, will sing the song O re chiraiya. The event is set to conclude with a folk song session called Fiery songs of the soil by Janasamskriti.
Seema Joshi, founder of Choti Si Khushi, said, “We want to do something for the community collectively. This group has created a message of togetherness for a social cause. Our concerns are women and gender equality.”
“It is rare that civil groups working on different issues join hands for one cause. This has happened for the first time in the sub-city and working for the community together is a good experience for us,” said AK Parashar, a resident of Sri Agrasen Apartments, Sector 7, and founder of Mission Clean and Safe Dwarka.
D-AGE told City Spidey that many organisations in the group were working with underprivileged communities in sub-settlements in and around Dwarka. The group plans to continue working together on gender related issues.
