Nuns help women demand education

(March 06, 2010) More than 200 poor and illiterate women staged a rally in a central Indian town Thursday, March 4th to promote women’s education. Sister Vinaya Thomas, a member of the Sisters of Jesus congregation that organized the rally in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh state, India said the country could address many problems if its women were educated. “Women are the torchbearers of the family and their education is a must for the strengthening of society and nation,” she said. The rally ended with the women performing dances and short plays for some 500 people, including men and children. A play on female infanticide highlighted how important females are in the family and society. Sister Alice Jacob, the congregation’s assistant superior general, urged the women to fight as a group for their rights. “When you go alone to a government office, you may be denied your rights, but go in a group and get what is due to you,” the nun said. Sister Thomas said her congregation has been striving to help women lead a dignified life. Even after the government’s commitment toward education for all, India has only 54.5 per cent female literacy, one of the lowest rates in Asia. It means that there are at least 200 million illiterate women in India.