JAIPUR: An interactive programme on the education of Muslim girls organised here on Thursday highlighted the adversities and hardships obstructing educational advancement of the fair sex despite their desire to join schools and colleges and excel in studies to march ahead in their lives.

Each of the 223 girls participating in the programme had a story of fight against the odds and struggle against poverty, disadvantage and affliction. Though some of the girls succeeded in getting a good level of education, the majority of them have to drop out of schools due to a number of factors, primarily the inability of their parents to bear the cost of education.

The Chairperson of the Rajasthan Women's Commission, Pawan Surana, who was specially invited to the programme, was left aghast on hearing the narratives of deprivation of Muslim girls. She expressed surprise over the gaping hole in the implementation of the State Government's schemes for promotion of education among weaker sections.

The half-day programme was organised by the National Muslim Women's Welfare Society on the premises of a Government Middle School in the Muslim-dominated Baas Badanpura locality adjacent to the Walled City here. A number of social activists attended the event, to which the State Women's Commission and the UNICEF also extended support.

The saga of destitution, distress, difficulties and dilemma was common to all the girls, who were anguished at their inability to compete with those from other communities.

The Society's president, Nishat Hussain, pointed out that it was not just the vicious circle of poverty which had blocked educational advancement of Muslim girls, but the social structure heavily loaded against the poor and victimised Muslims the most.

While 18-year-old Rashida said she and her sisters had to discontinue studies because they had to work for subsistence after their father turned blind, teenager Shabana was married at a tender age and is not allowed by her in-laws to study further. When another girl, Shahjahan, complained that the headmistress of the Government school in her locality had demanded money for admission to the 9th standard, Ms. Surana got agitated and promised that she would ensure disciplinary action against such officials. "Girls' education in Government schools is absolutely free and they are entitled to get free books,'' she said.

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