- ‘Children’s Festival: Pragati 2026 – From Self-Respect to Equality’, organized in Lucknow on Women’s Day
- 20 talented girls and alumni honored during the event
- Message of women’s empowerment echoed through flash mobs, plays and yoga performances
- Around 850 children participated, 23 thematic stalls became the center of attraction
Lucknow: On the occasion of International Women’s Day, a special program titled ‘Pragati: From Self-Respect to Equality – Bal Utsav’ was organized in the state capital at Dayal Gateway by the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department. The event was dedicated to promoting self-respect, equality and empowerment among girls. One of the highlights of the program was the felicitation of 20 talented girls and former students who have achieved notable success in fields such as sports, education, innovation and social awareness.
The state-level event witnessed participation from around 850 students, teachers and parents from various districts of the state. A total of 23 thematic stalls were set up at the venue, showcasing teaching-learning materials, creative activities, social-emotional learning, leadership development, parent engagement and career counselling.
Addressing the event, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Basic Education Sandeep Singh said that International Women’s Day is an occasion to honor the strength and contributions of women. Today, daughters are excelling in education, sports, science and administration. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, UP government is continuously taking effective steps to promote girls’ education and empowerment.
He noted that 746 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) are currently operating in the state and are being gradually upgraded up to Class 12. Efforts are also underway to establish KGBVs in all 826 development blocks of the state to ensure that more girls receive quality education. He also advised students to use digital technology positively and avoid unnecessary use of mobile phones and social media.
Additional Chief Secretary (Basic and Secondary Education) Parth Sarathi Sen Sharma extended his greetings on International Women’s Day and stated that significant progress has been made in girls’ education in Uttar Pradesh over the past two decades, owing to growing social awareness and government policies. He also emphasized increasing girls’ participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects in secondary education.
Director General of School Education Monica Rani said that initiatives like ‘Meena Manch’ provide girls with opportunities to express their ideas and develop leadership skills. Girls who perform well in sports, education and cultural activities serve as an inspiration for society.
Zakari Adam, head of UNICEF in Uttar Pradesh, remarked that Pragati program celebrates the capabilities, creativity and leadership of girls and every child, especially girls should have equal opportunities to learn, grow and lead.
The program was inaugurated by Minister Sandeep Singh through the traditional lighting of the lamp. During the event, comic books created by children, inspirational success stories of former ‘Meena Manch’ participants and case-study booklets related to Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas were also released.
The event began with a Saraswati Vandana performed by students, followed by a video presentation showcasing district and division level activities related to the Bal Utsav, highlighting children’s creativity and achievements across the state.
Girls also presented flash mobs, street plays, dances, yoga demonstrations and mime performances based on themes of women’s empowerment and self-respect. Through these performances, they conveyed a strong message about girls’ education, rights and equal opportunities.
The program ‘Pragati: From Self-Respect to Equality – Bal Utsav’ was first launched as a pilot project in 2024. Following its success, it was expanded during 2025-26 to all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh. The event was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, competitions were organized at district level. In second phase, divisional-level Bal Utsav events were held across 18 divisions. Finally, in the state-level program, the most outstanding talents were given the opportunity to participate.
Girls being honored:
Bhavana- KGBV Kundarki, Moradabad – Selected for the state hockey team.
Anokhi – KGBV Malihabad, Lucknow – Selected for the state football team.
Payal Pal – KGBV Malihabad, Lucknow – Selected for the state football team.
Shikha Gangwar – KGBV Bhojipura, Bareilly – Bronze medalist in a national-level Taekwondo competition.
Neha Sagar – Fatehganj, Bareilly – Gold medalist in a state-level Taekwondo competition.
Vanshika Yadav – KGBV Bareilly Nagar Area, Bareilly – Gold medalist in a national-level Taekwondo competition.
Soni – KGBV Bulandshahr Nagar Area, Bulandshahr – Gold medalist in a state-level Thang-Ta competition.
Prachi – KGBV Bulandshahr Nagar Area, Bulandshahr – Gold medalist in a state-level Thang-Ta competition.
Priyanshi – KGBV Lakhawati, Bulandshahr – Gold medalist in a state-level Thang-Ta competition.
Tamanna – KGBV Anupshahr, Bulandshahr – Gold medalist in a state-level Thang-Ta competition.
Lali – KGBV Ganj Muradabad, Unnao – Selected for the state cricket team.
Sheikh Rafia – KGBV Ganj Muradabad, Unnao – Selected for the state cricket team.
Sonali Bharti – KGBV Bhathat, Gorakhpur – Gold medalist in a state-level Taekwondo competition.
Muskan Baghel – KGBV Atrauli, Aligarh – Selected for the state-level Kabaddi team.
Kunjal Saroj – KGBV Sevapuri, Varanasi – Selected in 2023 for an educational visit to ISRO.
Chhaya Chaurasia – KGBV Kopaganj, Mau – Passed Class 10 examination with 95% marks.
Garima – KGBV Thekma, Azamgarh – Passed Class 10 examination with 95% marks.
Shagun Vishwakarma – KGBV Bhadohi, Bhadohi – Passed Class 10 examination with 80% marks.
Mahshar Jahan – Upper Primary School Nagli Choiya, Haldaur (Bijnor) – The first woman in her village pursuing a bachelor’s degree. She is also spreading awareness about girls’ education in her community and preparing for government examinations, while actively participating in community activities.
Shivani – Composite School Barata Chirgaon, Badagaon, Jhansi – Working in her community on women’s health and rights awareness.
Nidhi Verma – UPS Kotra, Lakhimpur – Currently working as a nurse in Shahjahanpur.
Shaheen – UPS Kumhraura, Barabanki – Became the first female graduate from her village. Instead of leaving the village, she chose to work for children’s rights, especially for girls.
Rekha Singh – UPS Atonar, Ghaziabad – Gained recognition in Under-16 cricket and played at the national level in 2017. She has played in Ranji Trophy five times between 2017 and 2024 and is currently preparing again for the tournament. She was selected for the National Cricket Academy and Zonal Cricket Academy in 2019 and in 2024 she was selected as a bowler for the Mumbai team nets.
