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Chief minister, TR Zeliang, and other officials pose for a photograph with the school children during the National Girl Child Day celebration in Kohima on January 24.[/caption]
Kohima, Jan. 24: Nagaland today joined the rest of the country in celebrating the National Girl Child Day 2017. An event marking the occasion was held at the Capital Convention Centre, Kohima, on Tuesday.
State Chief Minister TR Zeliang, who graced the occasion as the chief guest, said he was delighted to take part in the National Girl Child Day 2017 celebration which also marks the second year of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme by the Government of India calling to ensure life and education to every girl child.
Zeliang highlighted that the main idea behind the observance of the National Girl Child Day and the BBBP Scheme is to remove the inherent bias and discrimination against the girl child prevalent in the Indian society. He pointed out that the low child sex ratio of 918 females for every 1000 males as per the 2011 census was something which cannot just be ignored without inviting serious consequences.
“We all know that this unreasonably low ratio is not the result of natural sex selection process but a result of deliberate human intention at various stages of conception and birth. Even after birth, a girl child continues to face various kinds of discrimination,” he stated.
This preference of the male child, he maintained, is prevalent in almost all societies worldwide including the Naga society. He opined that the undue preference for male child might have something to do with the ancient tradition of warfare. However, he maintained that in the modern civilised society of the 21st Century, there appears to be no logical reasons except to say that “old habits die hard.” He felt that the society often allowed itself to be held in bondage of old habits and outdated traditions, which it needs to be liberated from moving with the times.
It is to break the shackles of these old habits, traditions, and mindsets that the National Girl Child Day is being observed and the BBBP Scheme was initiated by the government of the day, he added.
“Even in Nagaland, the preference for the male child has always been there but Nagas do not go to the extent of aborting unborn girl child or discriminating the girl child in the family,” Zeliang said.
But he voiced concern to learn of the low child sex ratio of Longleng district which stands at 885:1000 as per 2011 census. Because of this figure, Longleng has been identified as one of the 100 gender critical district in the country, he said.
Towards this end, the chief minister called upon the Health & Family Welfare and Social Welfare departments to find out the reasons behind the sudden decline in the child sex ratio of the district. After the survey report was brought out, he assured that the government will look into the matter and take measures to check the imbalances.
Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar, talking about the State’s vision for the girl child, said a starting point would be to look at the need of the girl child encompassing access to food, education, health care, a loving and caring environment, at home and outside, which is enabling and does not discriminate, with the expectation that on growing up, she would have opportunities for employment and power to make decisions within the home and outside it, without discrimination or disadvantage.
“The substrate fulfilling these needs would provide the necessary environment for the girl child to bloom into the woman who can be the individual, the wife, the mother, the farmer, the worker, the artisan, the professional, the thinker, the artist, the activist and what have you, for living her life to the full and giving the society her fullest,” he stated.
Barring a few aspects, the Chief Secretary said, women are excelling in almost all spheres of work, and they have even penetrated into the once considered male bastion, such as the armed services. He expressed hope that in the years to come, women will also represent the important decision making bodies in the public sphere.
“It is only when women realise their full potential, we as a society, will realise ours,” Kumar concluded.
In a brief address, minister for Social Welfare, Kiyanilie Peseyie said the theme of the occasion ‘My Girl Child- My Asset, not my liability’ is very relevant.
“While celebrating their (girl children) lives, let us also commit to work towards ensuring their quality education, their survival and wellbeing… work for the benefit of the children in general and our girl child in particular, and set our vision to empower them,” the legislator urged the gathering.
While highlighting on the status of the girl child in Nagaland, Director of State Resource Centre for Women Mission, Daisy Mezhur called upon the Naga society to “give the girl child a chance- a chance to dream of hope, equality, dignity, opportunities for a better future”
Interestingly, the programme was notably chaired by a 9-year old Class IV student, Jentina Yaomei, while child artistes Benjongsola Jamir and Ruovilhou Kense enthralled the gathering with their powerful vocals.
Earlier a video dedicated to every girl child titled ‘Any dream will do,’ documented by the SRCW, was launched by the chief guest.
