Priyanka Chopra Jonas landed in India after three long years. The actor as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador paid her visit to One Stop Centers and government units in Lucknow and other units of Uttar Pradesh. These areas are working towards women and child education and upliftment of the weaker and minority sections of the society.
She says, “The cycle may be slow, but there is progress. Schemes are in place and are being implemented. I hope India becomes a developed country from being a developing country. I visited the model One Stop Centers, established by UNICEF and Government of India, where women beneficiaries are getting medical, physical, police and legal support. Apps have made it easy for anganwadi workers to keep track records. ATM Sakhi and bank correspondents are helping homemakers.”
I met girls who were taken out of schools so that their brothers can study, those who are survivors of trafficking and sexual abuse. I’m happy that today, girls are studying and they want to get educated. None of them wanted to become Priyanka Chopra… they wanted to become doctors and engineers and pull their families out of poverty. I’m returning [to LA] very inspired. I am a new mother and I wish my daughter has the power that I saw in these girls. They are really fighting very hard to get educated. There is no age for getting educated and that [thought] alone can break the cycle,” she added speaking about the right to education for girls.
She also addressed the issue concerning the stereotypes attached with girls, “I hope the new generation contributes to the growth of the country. We need to move ahead holding our tradition and modernity. Girls are our ‘dhan’, not ‘paraya-dhan’ — this needs to be taught.”
Priyanka is contented and happy to see the change at grassroots levels. She says, “Problems in our country are aplenty — large population, stereotypes and bias against girls. All that needs to change. Also, besides implementing initiatives, we need to change from within our homes. Only then can things change on a larger-scale.”
