Dharmendra Pradhan launches CRIIIO 4 Good module to empower youth

The Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan launched 'CRIIIO 4 GOOD', a new online, life skills learning module to promote gender equality among girls and boys.

• According to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, CRIIIO 4 Good modules will become a medium to empower the girl child and spread awareness about gender equality.

Launched in collaboration with ICC and UNICEF and BCCI:

• The program was launched at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in collaboration with the International Cricket Council, UNICEF and the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Presence of many dignitaries:

• The event was attended by Dr. Kuber Dindor, Minister of Tribal Development, Primary, Secondary and Adult Education, Government of Gujarat; Ms Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF Representative; Jay Shah, Honorary Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India; Smriti Mandhana, Indian cricketer and celebrity supporter of ICC-UNICEF 'CRIIIIO 4 Good' initiative;
• Addressing the event, Dharmendra Pradhan underlined the emphasis of NEP 2020 on gender equality and equal opportunities as a fundamental principle.
• Through 'CRICIO 4 GOOD', the power of the game and the popularity of cricket can be used as a medium to empower the girl child and spread awareness about gender equality.
• The country witnessed history with the passing of the Nari Shakti Vandan Act and taking India to the forefront of women-centric development.
• Smriti Mandhana shared the first learning module of 'CRISIO 4 Good' with over 1000 school children at the stadium.

CRIIIIO 4 GOOD:

• It is a series of 8 cricket-based animation films to promote gender equality, expose girls to life skills and encourage their participation in sports.
• Harnessing the popularity of young audiences and their passion for cricket, ICC and UNICEF released these modules to inspire children and youth to adopt important life skills and appreciate the importance of gender equality.

The topics of the eight modules are:

• Leadership, problem-solving, confidence, decision making, negotiation, empathy, teamwork and goal setting and are visualized through state-of-the-art animation using cricket examples.
• Intensive research on local nuances has made these films real and relevant.

Government initiatives to reduce gender gap:

• Initiatives in the field of economic partnership and health:
  • Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: Under this scheme, girls have been empowered financially by opening bank accounts.
  • Mahila Shakti Kendra: Its objective is to empower rural women by providing skill development and employment opportunities.
  • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: This initiative ensures the safety, survival and education of the girl child.
  • Rashtriya Mahila Kosh: It is an apex micro-finance organization that provides micro-credit to poor women on concessional terms for various livelihood and income generating activities.
  • Women Entrepreneurship: To encourage women entrepreneurship, the government has launched Stand-up India and Mahila e-Haat (online marketing platform to support women entrepreneurs/self-help groups/NGOs), entrepreneurship and skill development programmes.
  • Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya: These have been opened in educationally backward blocks.
• Initiatives for Political Empowerment:
  • Political Reservation: The government has reserved 33% seats in Panchayati Raj institutions for women.
  • Nari Shakti Vandan Act: The government has reserved 33% seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.
  • Capacity building of elected women representatives: It is organized with a view to empower women to participate effectively in governance processes.

Status of women empowerment and gender equality around the world:

• A UN report in January 2023 highlights the state of women's empowerment and gender equality around the world.
• In this comprehensive analysis jointly prepared by UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme, 114 countries have been evaluated on the basis of the Women's Empowerment Index and the Global Gender Equality Index.
• Only 1% of women globally live in countries with high women's empowerment and gender equality.
• Leadership roles and decision-making remain predominantly male-dominated, limiting opportunities for women.
• On average, women achieve only 60% of their full potential.
• Women lag behind men by 28% in key dimensions of human development.
• None of the 114 countries analyzed achieved full women's empowerment or gender equality.
• More than 90% of women globally live in countries that perform poorly or mediocrely in achieving gender equality and women's empowerment.
• Challenges to gender equality persist even in highly developed countries. That is, economic progress alone does not ensure gender equality.