SPORTS FOR GIRLS EMPOWERMENT

Sports for Girls: Confidence-Building
in them

Sports for Girls:
Building
Their Confidence

A unique programme entitled “Sports for Girls: Confidence-Building and Increasing the Value of girl Children in 5 districts in Haryana. had been initiated in the year 2017-2018 by CSR with support from the Australian High Commission, New Delhi, India. The programme areas were Ambala, Kurukshetra, Gurugram, Jhajjar and Mahendragarh districts of Haryana. This is a step towards achieving gender equality by sensitizing communities towards merit of sports for girls. Such sports programs also promote social and leadership aspects of participants by changing the socio-economic value of girl children. The key to our approach is making girls economically worthy for the family and the community at large, which will help in building acceptability for them as a long term goal under ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)’ project. The Project Launch event was conducted at the Sector 42 Chandigarh Hockey Stadium in the presence of many sports luminaries and Mr. Chris, Deputy High Commissioner, Australian High Commission. We have been able to successfully address discrimination against girls and women in accessing sports facilities in the targeted districts. Since June 2019, CSR has been implementing the Phase-2 of the programme; “Sports for Empowering Girls in 5 Gender-Critical Districts of Haryana” in the above-mentioned 5 districts supported by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi.

Learn more about these two phases below!

Geeta Phogat; Commonwealth gold medalist wrestler said in an interview to The Guardian  “things are not going to change until Indian women, and their parents stop being afraid of what society will say.”  The team took it as a challenge to change the rigid patriarchal mindsets in the rural parts of Haryana because sports should definitely not be seen as a gender-segregated activity.

Dr. Manasi Mishra, the Head of Research Knowledge and Management Department and the project Coordinator for ‘Sports for Girls’ has bravely worked for more than a decade at the grass root level to fight for the rights of women and girls of Haryana. Dr. Mishra used her field experience to highlight the importance of sports in the shaping girls personalities and affecting their overall development while imbibing them with human values and team spirit. 

This programme is a step towards achieving it. 

Ms. Monika during a sub-district level Volleyball match at Mehrampur, Mahendragarh: The project was broadly divided into 3 stages. In the first stage we conducted a scoping study and enrolment drive for the number of girls enrolled in district and sub-district level athletics programs.  A district and sub-district level match was held in each of the five districts, in the project’s second stage. Sports were chosen on the basis of survey results and 100 socio-economically backward participants from the five districts were given a small scholarship amount of rupees 2000 each. The project concluded with a District Level Workshop and Speaking Tour by National Champions. Local international players were invited to the event to motivate participants. We also provided players with some sports equipment to persuade them to continue their practice.

Phase I of this project was successfully completed on the 15th of May 2018. However, we had managed to motivate these young Haryanvi girls, which resulted in them having more aspirations and dreams; and us initiating phase 2 based on our observations and learning from phase 1. 

Key Achievements from Phase I

  • Found several sports of interest in the 5 districts – volleyball, cycling, hockey, gymnastics, kabaddi, handball
  • 294 girls enrolled in district and sub-district level sports programs , 264 participated in competitions
  • Awareness generation through media coverage and networking with district authorities
  • Increase in the leadership spirit of participants

Key Learning Points from Phase I

  • Low nutritional intake
  • Resistance to mobility of girls
  • More avenues needed for girls to showcase their sportsmanship
  • Based on these learnings, we have started implementing Phase II, where we incorporated Nutritional Intake, as well as district and zonal level competitions for the girls.

This phase is being implemented to increase female enrolment in school and university level sports programs, and provide more  opportunities to compete at inter-district levels. The division has already conducted district-level competitions in varied sports in Mahendragarh, Jhajjar, and Gurugram, and is in the process of organizing such competitions in the remaining two  districts.  aims to increase female enrolment in school and university sports programs, along with opportunities to compete at the inter-district level. Until now, we have finished conducting district-level competitions in varied sports in Mahendragarh, Jhajjar, and Gurugram, and are in the process of organizing the same in the remaining two districts. We are currently also in discussions to implement the nutritional intake aspects of this project. Our tentative plan regarding Nutritional intake provision is providing the participants or players with fruit and milk. Our expected deadline for project finalization is January 2020. 

Our team moved forward with the motto of “KHEL KUDD BANAE SASHAKTH BETIYAN”; meaning ‘Sports will empower our daughters, Daughters will empower the nation!’ ‘Sports for Girls’ aims to address the discrimination girls and women face while accessing education and uses sports holistic development of the their personalities and economic empowerment. The young women participating in this projects will learn sportsmanship, leadership skills, and increase their confidence along with improving their health and fitness.  

For further information:

Dr. Manasi Mishra
Head, Research & Knowledge Management
Centre for Social Research (CSR)
2, Nelson Mandela Marg,
VasantKunj,
New Delhi-110070.

Centre for Social Research (CSR)
An organisation for the women and girls of India
Tel: +91 (0)11 26899998

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