Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Jan. 24 (EMN): Joining the rest of the country in observing the National Girl Child Day, the State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW) organised a workshop focusing on skill development at the government primary school of T-Khel in Kohima.
The programme was conducted with the theme “A skilled generation: An independent generation-BBBP.” It was organised in collaboration with the Nagaland State Social Welfare Board (NSSWB) and the Entrepreneur Development and Integrated Training Institute (EDITI).
Around hundred girls participated in the skill development training, which was conducted on haircutting, doll-making, flower-making and jewellery.
Speaking about the significance of the day, the NSSWB’s chairperson, Bano Vinito, said that the day was observed to increase awareness among people about the inequalities faced by the girl child in the society. The speaker said that the day was started to offer more support and new opportunities to girls in the country.
Emphasizing on the importance of education, Vinito also encouraged every girl child to attain education in order to be liberated and be self-worth, while she also advised them (girls) to focus on their academics, careers and economic independence.
“Education liberates us and builds our self worth, self esteem and self confidence. Make every effort to develop life skills which will enable you to have competence and economic independence,” the chairperson asserted.
Jusiasa Nyuthe, call responder of 181, highlighted the gathering on toll free number 181 for women and girls in distress and One Stop Centre, a scheme for addressing violence against women and children.
Childline counsellor, Neingutuonuo Kulnu provided an introduction to EDITI, while State Coordinator SRCW Juliana Medom educated the gathering by providing information on the relevance of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP).
The day’s programme also focussed on the skill development of those girl child who are not good in academics but have other skills. The motive of the programme is to develop their skills so as to make them independent.
One Stop Centre: Commemorating the National Girl Child Day, the One Stop Centre conducted awareness programme under the banner of “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.”
The programme was organised in collaboration with Sisterhood Network, Dimapur at Bethel Baptist School, Old Showuba in Dimapur.
One Stop Centre is integrated with the Women Helpline 181 of the State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW) under the department of Social Welfare as the implementing agency, the organisation informed.
During the programme, the two organisations introduced their centres and services. A demonstration on child abuse “Good touch & bad touch” was depicted, the press release updated.
The One Stop Centre, Kohima, also organised a programme for children at the Anganwadi Centre, AG colony.
The team highlighted on the significance of the occasion and interacted with the children and conducted development group activities. The team also said to have sensitised parents about the centre and the services.
Master of Social Workers (MWS) students and faculty members of North East Institute of Social Science and Research (NEISSR) commemorated the National Girl Child Day on Jan. 24 at the institute’s conference hall in Dimapur. Updates form the institute on Wed. informed about the event.
Assistant Prof. Dr. Toli H Kiba, in his speech said the National girld Child Day was initiated by the Government of India in 2008 and since then, Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has taken different initiative to address different issues related to girl child. The issues were evils of female feticide, female infanticide and discrimination in matters of health, nutrition, education and opportunities in the country, she said.
Highlighting the objectives of the day, Kiba said it is celebrated as a national observance to increase the consciousness of the people and offer new opportunities to the girl child in the society; to remove all the inequalities faced by the girl children of the Indian society; to make certain that every girl child is getting proper respect and value in the Indian society; to ensure that the girl children are getting their all the human rights in the country; to work against diminishing the child sex ratio in the India and change the people mind about the girl child; to initiate couple towards the girl child by increasing awareness about the importance and role of the girl child; to address the girl children issues associated to their health, respect, education, nutrition; and to propagate the gender equality among people in India.
The prof. urged the MSW students to encourage government teachers who are appointed in rural and interior villages of Nagaland to work sincerely to promote girl child’s education.
Speaking about the inequality in health and nutrition, she opined ‘in a society where women are considered as homemaker and care taker there is always a tendency for girls and women to eat last’at home, in community feast etc.’
Principal NEISSR Dr. Fr. CP Anto also spoke on the importance of commemorating the day and emphasised on ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.’
It is important to create awareness on the equality and rights of girl child to remove different types of atrocities, social discrimination and exploitation that girls generally face in their life, he said.
