I n a country where the phrase “ Beti padhegi toh kya karegi ? (What will a daughter do if she studies?)” once echoed through homes and villages, India has undergone a powerful transformation in girls’ education over the past decade.

At a Mahila Sammelan (Women’s Conference) in Dwarka, Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked a group of women how many had studied beyond class 5. To his surprise, most of the elderly women raised their hands, while few younger women did. When asked why, they pointed to the era of the Gaekwad dynasty (1721-1947), when fathers were penalised for not educating their daughters. Today, however, many women are literate, while their daughters-in-law are not.

This anecdote underscores a larger truth: good intentions must be backed by accountability, leader

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