Everyone irrespective of gender should have equal opportunities to flourish: Monjita

SILCHAR, Oct 13 - In what could be called a rare moment of inspiration and glory for Assam and the whole of India, Monjita Baruah, a third semester BTech student at the National Institute of Technology, (NIT) Silchar was the British Deputy High Commissioner for a day on October 10.

Monjita, daughter of Mrinmoy Baruah, Under Secretary, Department of PWD, Government of Assam and Mollika Saikia Baruah, HoD, Department of Chemical Engineering at Assam Engineering Institute and a resident of Silpukhuri in Guwahati earned the rare feat after winning the competition for women as a part of celebrating the International Day for Girl Child which was observed on October 11.

Sharing her joy with The Assam Tribune on Sunday, Monjita who wishes to carry on in her career with her area of interest said, �the competition was about making a video based on the theme � what does gender equality mean to you? Accordingly, I had prepared and submitted a one-minute video clip and a few days later, I was informed about my selection from the East and North Eastern region. It was a thoroughly enlightening experience being at the British High Commission in Kolkata. I had seen their functional areas and interacted with the people who matter at the organisation. I am enriched.�

In her words, it is a huge loss to human kind if half of the world population which constitutes women are not given equal opportunities to contribute towards development and make the country and the world a better place to live. Every person, irrespective of gender should be given equal opportunities to flourish. It only then they can help to make the world a better place for all of us to live.

�Things have started to improve but there is a long journey. Women need to stand up and feel they are equal. Men must also be sensitised on the issues,� Monjita feels.

Responding to whether campaigns like �Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao� will be successful, Monjita said that any good initiative is bound to achieve goals only when men and women step up to shoulder responsibilities of their own.

Meanwhile, Cachar Deputy Commissioner Laya Madduri and Director of NIT Silchar Prof Sibaji Bandopadhyay have congratulated Monjita for her achievement.