TEZU, SEP 9:
Former Chairperson of the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW) Radhilu Chai Techi has called upon the youth to introspect on social inequalities and discrimination prevalent in society and work towards building a just and equitable Arunachali society.
Addressing college students, youth and library activists at Bamboosa Library here on Wednesday, Techi said social inequalities and discrimination against girls and women had existed for centuries in India and across the world, but enlightened generations had challenged and abolished such practices in many societies.
She was delivering the keynote address on “Legal Literacy for Youth” as part of International Literacy Week celebrations organised jointly by Bamboosa Library, Forum of Library Activists Medo, the District Adult Education Department Lohit and Akashvani Tezu.
Techi said that although Arunachal Pradesh had made considerable progress compared to many other communities in the country, Arunachali daughters and women had for decades been denied equal rights to property in the name of social customs and customary laws.
“Do you think it is just?” she asked, urging the youth to use literacy not merely as an academic skill but as a means to understand social problems and challenge misconceptions surrounding rigid customs that may have lost relevance with changing times.
Forum of Library Activists member Banika Kri urged the youth to make effective use of their reading habits to overcome academic lethargy, broaden their intellectual horizons and support women in their families in securing equal recognition and respect.
Appreciating the enthusiastic participation of the youth, District Adult Education Officer (DAEO) Jinquilu Chai assured continued support to Bamboosa Library in its efforts to spread awareness among the people.
Lohit Youth Library Network Coordinator S Mundayoor, while introducing the guests, recalled DAEO Jinquilu Chai’s association with Bamboosa Library since its inception. He said the District Adult Education Department had joined hands with the library in organising its first public reading awareness programme in May 2007.
Mundayoor also acknowledged Techi’s sustained patronage of the reading movement over the past two decades, which he said had helped the youth library movement build a wide network of patrons across the country.
The celebrations began with the preliminary written round of the 3rd AIR Literacy Quiz organised by Akashvani Tezu for college students. Thirty students from Government Indira Gandhi College participated in the quiz. The final radio quiz is scheduled to be held at Akashvani Tezu on September 10.
Bamboosa Library-in-Charge Nishanlu Kri coordinated the programme and expressed gratitude to Akashvani Tezu for its continued service to the youth and to the District Adult Education Department Tezu for sponsoring the celebrations and prizes.
