Source: High Commission of Canada
Deputy High Commissioner for Canada to India, Jess Dutton interacted with students at a Aga Khan Foundation early child development centre in Patna, Bihar, supported by Canada.
During his visit to Bihar, Deputy High Commissioner Dutton also spoke on ending child, early and forced marriage (#CEFM) and #GirlsRights at a Canada-India seminar organized in collaboration with NGO Jagran Pehel at the Patna Women’s College.
#GirlsRights and providing equal opportunities and education for girls is a priority for both Canada and India. The “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” campaign in India is aligned with Canada’s global priority on ending #CEFM. Canadian missions in India have been collaborating with and supporting local partners to increase awareness on #GirlsRights. In addition to providing grants, some of their initiatives include organizing plays and conducting seminars and workshops.
Other panelists and speakers at the seminar included Dr. Sister Marie Jessie A.C., Principal – Patna Women’s College; Dr. N Vijaya Lakshmi, Chief Executive Officer, JEEVIKA, BRLPS; Dr. Arun Verma, Member, Bihar Commission for Protection of Child Rights; and Mr. Sayed Mansoor Umar Qadri, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF India, Bihar.