Social Welfare Minister Inaugurates One Day National Seminar on 'Educate the Girl Child: Break the Bondage'

Hnahthial Post | October 10, 2025, Aizawl: Social Welfare, Women and Child Development Minister Pi Lalrinpuii today graced the inaugural session of the One-Day National Seminar on ‘Educate the Girl Child: Break the Bondage’ held at the Conference Hall of Government Aizawl North College (GANC). The seminar organised by the Research & Innovation Committee, Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and the Department of Education, GANC with support from the Directorate of Women and Child Development, Social Welfare Department.

In her inaugural address, Minister Lalrinpuii underscored the importance of ensuring quality education for girl children, noting that education not only brings about equality but also transforms individuals, uplifts families and builds nations. She emphasized that when girls attend school, they gain not just literacy but also ambition and life skills that can change the course of their lives, enabling them to become responsible citizens and effective leaders. Educating girls, she said, is central to reducing early marriages, building happier families, and creating a progressive society.

Highlighting Mizoram’s high literacy rate of 98.2%, the Minister pointed out that despite this achievement, dropout rates continue to persist, especially among girls in higher education and technical training. She noted that deep-rooted societal attitudes expecting girls to marry early, along with economic hardships, remain major challenges. Referring to the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) campaign, she stressed the need for changing mindsets, raising community awareness on the rights and potential of girls, and involving families, schools, teachers, and local communities in advancing gender equality.

Speaking on the occasion, Pi Zoramthangi Chhangte, Director of Women and Child Development, described education as the most effective tool for empowerment. She highlighted the department’s initiatives under Mission Shakti and BBBP, while observing that despite access to education, many girls are still denied opportunities to fully realize their potential. Noting that Mizoram’s achievements in literacy put us in a position to lead by example, she called for collective efforts from the government, educational institutions, and society at large to address barriers faced by girl students.

Delivering the keynote address, Smt. Kashmiri Boruah, Assistant Director, Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women & Child Development, Regional Centre, Guwahati, Ministry of Women & Child Development (GoI), remarked that education is not merely about literacy but about liberation. While acknowledging progress in Mizoram, she drew attention to the fact that of the 13,000+ cases of abuse and violence registered under the State Women Helpline during 2024–25, three-fourths had women victims. She expressed optimism that seminars such as this would allow researchers to ask deeper questions and guide government policy and intervention aimed at promoting gender equity.

The seminar, chaired by Dr. Lalzarmawii, Chairperson, Research & Innovation Committee, IQAC, concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Saroj Laldinpuii, Principal, Government Aizawl North College. The seminar included two technical sessions, during which 24 research papers were presented.