In this age of women’s emancipation, why is there always a discordant note, like the suicide of 15 yr old girl for not being allowed to study further.

Meenu Kumari commmited suicide by hanging herself in her house in North West Delhi. She had recently shifted from Bihar and was staying here with her parents and elder brother.

It seems that she was studying back in Bihar in a Govt. school, but when she came to Delhi her father apparently forced her to leave studies and do house work.

Even though she was not an outstanding student the poor girl was fond of studies and desperately wanted to go to school like her brother who is studying in 12th standard. She used to have arguments with her father on this issue and when thwarted time and again she took the ultimate step of killing herself.

The most frustrating part is that in Government schools about 900 in Delhi provide free education, meals, books and uniform especially to girl child. There is absolutely no burden on the parents, they simply have to ensure that their wards attend school regularly. The school takes care of everything, even taking the students out for educational trips free of cost.

So much is being done to promote education but such incidents just prove that we still have a long way to go. It is necessary to bring awareness and enlightenment in the minds of the parents about the role and importance of education for girls also, then only we will take a step forward to usher in total development