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Resource person, teachers, parents and students at the seminar on the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojhana that was conducted at Mt. Carmel School, in Longleng on September 25.[/caption]
Dimapur, Sep. 25 (EMN): One day seminar on the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojhana’ was held at Mt. Carmel School, Longleng on September 25. The seminar was organized for the girl students from class 7 to 10 and also for the mothers with Akangjungla from The Morung Express, Dimapur as the resource person.
The seminar was organised with the objective to raise awareness on girl child empowerment through the medium of education and “celebrating the birth of a girl child and being proud of them just as we are about our boys,” a press release received here informed.
The resource person, Akangjungla, while dwelling on the flagship programme of the central government, stated that the programme was introduced in 2015 after the government of India recognised that “coordinated and convergent efforts are needed to ensure survival, protection and empowerment of the girl child.”
She said that the core objectives of this scheme are: Prevention of gender biased sex selective elimination; Ensuring survival & protection of the girl child; Ensuring education and participation of the girl child.
While stressing on the importance of education, Akangjungla said that educated women and girls have better opportunities and life choices; she also said that educated women have greater voice in the family and community affairs and more likely to participate in decision making; have better job opportunities and are more able to contribute to the family income. She also said that educated mothers are more likely to send all their children to school; have healthier pregnancies resulting in lower maternal mortality rates etc.
Also referring to the global goals set by the United Nation on “why empowering adolescent girls matters to all of us”; the speaker quoted, “It’s her right. More than an issue of gender, this is a human rights issue and every girl has the right to go to school, stay safe from violence, access health services, and fully participate in her community.”
She also stated that educated and empowered girls build healthier families, become an important key to breaking the cycle of poverty for families by investing back into her family and also strengthens economies.
“More than anything else, educating and empowering a girl child is the right thing to do and therefore, we have the collective obligation to guard her rights and support her welfare,” she further stated.
Earlier, a poem dedicated to every girl child titled ‘Bouquet of Flowers’ was recited by Ayen, while the headmistress of the school, Amenla T Imsong welcomed the audience. A short skit by class 7 girl students was also presented.