You’re the change, be the change

A shy nine-year-old from Jharkhand becomes the first in her family to graduate with a university scholarship. A young bride reclaims her life and pursues a law degree. A girl with a bicycle delays marriage to become a teacher. A stone layer's daughter boards her first flight to learn coding and returns earning more than anyone in her village.

These aren't anomalies. They're proof that when we invest in girls' aspirations with conviction and creativity, transformation isn't just possible--it's inevitable.

A fact corroborated by the World Development Report 2012 on Gender Equality and Development recognised that expanding women’s agency is critical to improving the lives of women, their households, and their communities. What makes this year’s International Day of the Girl Child which has just been observed particularly significant is that India is now demonstrating how this transformation happens in practice--and the lessons are profound.