The "Meena Manch" is a crucial, government-mandated platform in upper primary schools like UMS UMV Rajepur, specifically designed to empower girls and promote gender equality, drawing inspiration from the UNICEF-created cartoon character, Meena.
Here is the content for the "Meena Manch" website page:
👧 Meena Manch: Empowering Girls, Inspiring Change
The Meena Manch (Meena Forum) at UMS UMV Rajepur is a dynamic, student-led club that serves as a dedicated platform for adolescent girls to raise their voices, develop essential life skills, and advocate for their rights. It is inspired by Meena, the spirited, nine-year-old fictional character who is a role model for girls across South Asia, advocating for education and equality.
✨ Vision and Objectives
The core mission of the Meena Manch is to break down societal barriers and build confidence among our female students.
Promoting Education: To ensure every girl enrolls, attends school regularly, and completes her upper primary education (up to Class VIII).
Life Skills Development: To help girls acquire critical life skills, self-confidence, and self-esteem.
Addressing Social Issues: To raise awareness and facilitate dialogue on issues like child marriage, gender-based discrimination, hygiene, and nutrition.
Fostering Leadership: To select and train young girl leaders (Meena Prerak) who can inspire their peers and act as agents of change in their community.
🤝 How the Manch Works
The Meena Manch is not run by teachers; it is led by the students themselves with the guidance of a dedicated female teacher.
Membership: The Manch includes all girls from Classes 6 to 8. Boys are also encouraged to participate in discussions to foster gender sensitization.
Leadership: A core group of about 20 girls forms the executive body, and a Meena Prerak (Motivator) is selected from among them to lead the activities.
Facilitator (Sugamkarta): [Name of Female Teacher], a dedicated female teacher, serves as the Meena Sugamkarta, guiding the girls and ensuring the smooth functioning of the forum.
Meetings: The Manch holds regular meetings (typically once or twice a month) where students engage in open discussions, listen to Meena stories, and plan activities.
📢 Key Activities at UMS UMV Rajepur
Our Meena Manch undertakes various activities that contribute positively to the school and the surrounding Rajepur village:
Meena ki Kahani (Meena's Story): Regular sessions where stories about Meena's life and struggles are shared, followed by discussions on the moral and its relevance to their lives.
Awareness Campaigns: Organizing street plays (Nukkad Nataks), poster-making, and rallies to raise awareness about child marriage, the importance of washing hands, and avoiding open defecation.
Peer Support and Counselling: The leaders provide peer support to encourage classmates who are facing challenges or are at risk of dropping out.
Hygiene Monitoring: Conducting checks to ensure cleanliness in and around the toilets and promoting menstrual hygiene awareness.
Community Engagement: Organizing a Nani-Dadi Diwas (Grandmothers’ Day) to engage elderly community women and seek their support for girls' education.
💖 A Voice for Every Girl
The Meena Manch ensures that every girl feels heard and safe. A dedicated Complaint/Suggestion Box is installed on the campus. Girls can drop in their problems or suggestions anonymously, which are reviewed by the Meena Manch members and the Headmaster for immediate resolution.
