Educate slum dwellers about HIV/AIDS, de-addiction,domestic violence

In an attempt to create awareness on social issues in the slum areas of the city, more than 100 students from M S University (MSU) Faculty of Social Work (FSW) took part in a two-day bicycle rally that started on Saturday.

The students used 50 bicycles in the rally to cover the three slums of Tulsiwadi, Kishanwadi and Pensionpura where they performed skits and puppet shows on issues such as HIV/AIDS, de-addiction and domestic violence. Later, they organised a group discussion mostly with the female respondents.

Kiran Suryavanshi, a final year student from FSW said: "Our faculty intends to conduct psychoanalytical survey on the reasons behind addiction and domestic violence. Most of the respondents in the group discussion were women who are facing domestic violence due to certain habits of their spouses."

He said even as the women toil hard for the family, the men engage in activities such as prostitution and liquor consumption. Arun Nathai, another student from FSW said, on October 19, a panel discussion on these deep-rooted problems will be conducted where various city-based NGOs will make their presentations. On Sunday three other slums, Kalyan Nagar, Jagnath Nagar, and Mujmahuda will be covered.

The cycle rally was flagged off by MSU Chancellor, Mrunalini Devi Puar, Vadodara District Collector Vijay Nehra and Commissioner of Police Rakesh Asthana.