Education as Catalyst for Change: Seethakka Emphasizes Girls' Empowerment at District Women's Week

Hyderabad: At Women's Week celebrations held at the Rangareddy District Collectorate in Kongarakalan, Panchayat Raj, Rural Development and Women & Child Welfare Minister Dr. Dansari Anasuya Seethakka stressed that education stands as the most effective instrument for transforming both individual lives and broader society. She called upon adolescent girls to pursue leadership opportunities and establish thriving professional trajectories.

The minister's visit encompassed participation in multiple initiatives, including the Sneha Groups Mock Parliament session, the "Ammaku Aksharamala" literacy programme, and a distribution event for Anganwadi uniforms.

During her remarks, Seethakka emphasised that formal learning empowers individuals to reconstruct their lives following adversity. She motivated girls to aspire toward roles including corporators, mayors, MLAs and MPs. Drawing on Nelson Mandela's philosophy, the minister noted education's transformative capacity on a global scale while underlining the complementary importance of values and discipline. She urged attendees to demonstrate respect for parents and educators, thereby developing into conscientious members of society.

According to the minister, the government has established over 10,000 Sneha Groups benefiting approximately one lakh adolescent girls throughout Telangana. These collectives implement programmes addressing safety, health, nutrition, education and girls' advancement. She further counselled students to leverage mobile technology for educational purposes, skill acquisition and personal development rather than fostering unhealthy dependence.

"Your education and knowledge will accompany you through marriage and into your later years. Every girl must identify her aspirations and pursue them with determination," Seethakka remarked.

Strengthening Foundational Services

Speaking at the Anganwadi uniform distribution ceremony, Seethakka noted that Mahabubnagar established the groundwork for ICDS services in the state. She referenced former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's 1975 launch of the Integrated Child Development Services programme, designed to enhance child nutrition outcomes.

The minister highlighted the government's commitment to reinforcing Anganwadi facilities under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's administration, with particular attention to nutritional support spanning pregnancy through a child's third year.

According to Seethakka, the government has made available uniforms previously lacking in supply and distributed 57 categories of educational materials and recreational resources to Anganwadi centres. The "Tholi Mudda" initiative furnishes breakfast, milk, eggs and nutritious meals to children. Seethakka underscored that state-run Anganwadis deliver holistic child development and critical nutritional services.

Certificates marking school readiness were presented to children completing Anganwadi education and preparing for Class 1 entry.

Grassroots Concerns Take Centre Stage

The Mock Parliament session encompassed substantive discussions concerning education accessibility, healthcare services, cyber safety, transportation infrastructure, school facilities, women educator recruitment and menstrual hygiene product distribution. Participants posed questions that officials addressed during the programme.

SERP Chief Executive Officer Divya Devarajan acknowledged that Seethakka's Assembly interventions have frequently prompted officials to investigate community-level challenges with greater attention. She noted that Sneha Groups furnish girls with forums to voice their concerns with assurance.

The "Ammaku Aksharamala" initiative received recognition from officials present, who highlighted its success in enabling hundreds of thousands of women to acquire literacy and sign official documents rather than relying on thumb impressions.

Attendees included Chevella MLA Kale Yadaiah, Women's Commission member Sadalakshmi, Women and Child Welfare Secretary Anita Ramachandran, Director Shruti Ojha, Rangareddy District Collector Narayana Reddy and other government representatives.