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Thavaseelan K is seen speaking during the workshop on violence against women and children in Mon town.[/caption]
Dimapur, May 5 (EMN): Representatives from village councils, women organisations, church leaders, students and community leaders in Mon district were sensitised on violence against women and children during a series of workshops held on May 3 and 4 at Mon town. The programme was organised jointly by the office of the deputy commissioner, state resource centre for women (SRCW) and Nagaland state social welfare board (NSSWB).
Speaking in one of the programmes, Vrinda Shukla, SDPO, Mon, urged the parents to be vigilant, while sending their children away as domestic help or for education to towns and cities. She has also asked them to register details about their children with the police so that they could regulate to ensure prevention of violence and crime.
Thavaseelan K, deputy commissioner, Mon, has exhorted the community leaders to be conversant with the laws and government schemes available in order to take active steps against injustice within the community. He also encouraged them to educate each other in order to act together against any form of violence.
Mrs Bano Vinito, NSSWB chairperson, has described the inherent strong sense of community as an asset and asked the community to apply them to restrain and restrict such violence. She further urged the students’ unions to take charge and keep record of their own children leaving the village to prevent violence and trafficking.
“A good step would be to ensure the monitoring of teacher absenteeism and work towards improving the quality of education,” she added.
R Wilford, SDO, Mon, reminded them about the value of raising their children within their own guardianship. Lomei, KNSK president, while pointing out several incidents of children being abused, urged the public to ensure that all children are connected to the tribal bodies in the districts they are sent to. A KSU representative reiterated their commitment on the issue of child domestic help.
A workshop on child rights was exclusively conducted with principals and teachers of educational institutions. Another session on sexual harassment of women at workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, with the head of departments and other officials was also conducted.
Samuel Kapu, DCPO, Mon, spoke on the services available via the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), while Moba, DLSA panel lawyer, spoke on the services of the Nagaland state legal service authority. The workshops were conducted with special reference to Women Helpline 181, One Stop Centre and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
Poster campaign and community awareness were carried out by the Women Helpline 181 across Mon town and neighbouring villages from May 2 to 4.
