Gender-Positive Books By Katha To Challenge Gender Stereotypes

Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi and Katha Foundation, an NGO launched a series of five gender-positive books for children published by Katha at the New Zealand High Commission to reduce gender stereotypes and challenge the fundamental constructs of gender.

The books will be disseminated through libraries to primary school age children attending government schools and living in slum communities, as well as to students attending the Katha Lab School in Delhi and will directly benefit nearly 90, 000 children.

Talking about the partnership, Geeta Dharmarajan, the founder of Katha and author of three of these books, said, “Katha is happy to partner with the New Zealand High Commission to bring out this series of books that will help child readers understand the stereotypes that bind them to stagnation and lack of opportunities. Katha believes that each child is capable of building a kinder world for herself. These books are a testament to that belief.”

Manish Sisodia said, “I congratulate New Zealand High Commission and Katha for this unique initiative because I believe books like these is what humanity needs for us to nurture the kids, who are still pure at heart, so they can lead us to a more gender-balanced society.”

Katha’s project aims to develop children as agents of change and promote gender equity and female empowerment with the help of these five children’s storybooks. The books are available both in English and Hindi and have been produced with assistance from the High Commission’s Head of Mission Fund, which supports projects to contribute to wider community-well-being.

Joanna Kempkers, New Zealand High Commissioner to India shared, “Supporting a project that seeks to break down gender stereotypes through story telling was really an easy decision for us, because New Zealand’s Head of State, our Deputy Prime Minister, our Chief Justice and our representative to India, are all women.”