Girl Child Day celebrated across Nagaland

[caption id="attachment_276512" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Students are seen during the International Day of the Girl Child celebration at the office of SDO (Civil) Wakching, Mon on Friday.[/caption] Dimapur, Oct. 11 (EMN): International Day for the Girl Child was observed across the world on October 11 to highlight the needs and challenges faced by girls as well as promote girls' empowerment. The day was also celebrated across Nagaland by conducting several activities such as marathon race and felicitating new-born girl child.

Women-centric centres: Celebrating birth of girl child

The State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW) Nagaland along with the District-Level Centre for Women (MSK) and 181-Women Helpline Nagaland observed the International Day of the Girl Child on the theme, “Little girls with dreams become women with vision” by celebrating the birth of the girl child, acknowledge and encourage the mothers to bring up their children without any preferences and to promote the security and education for the girl child. An update from SRCW Nagaland informed that a team from the women-centric centres visited maternity wards of Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima to felicitate new born children and mothers. A total of 30 children and mothers were felicitated on the auspicious day. According to the press release, October has been designated as the month of the girl child. The month-long campaign will cover various institutions, communities and caregiver societies to meet the objectives of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) which focuses on celebrating the girl child, enable her education and to ensure survival and protection of the girl child. The drive will also create awareness for the fulfillment of girls’ rights and empowerment.

Mon: Girl students speak

International Day of the Girl Child was celebrated at the office of SDO (Civil) Wakching, Mon under the banner of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. A press release from Wakching Town Students' Union (WTSU) informed that girl students from schools under Wakching sub-division attended the event. One student from each school in the sub-division was given the opportunity to speak during the occasion. Relise Sangtam, SDO (Civil) Wakching, “interacted with the students and encouraged them to set their dreams and be sincere in their studies.” The programme was also attended by head GB of Wakching Hq, Methdak and WTSU president Yonglong Chemshe.

Longleng: Save angels

The Longleng district administration in collaboration with Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) Sakhi-One Stop Centre, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), observed the International Day of Girl Child at Longleng public ground by organising various activities. An update from DPRO office Longleng informed that the occasion started with the deputy commissioner of Longleng and BBBP chairman M Shayung Phom flagging off marathon race in the early morning of Friday. Phom spoke on the importance of the girl child, citing quotes like "Girls are Angels, Save Them", "Respect Females", and “Save the Girl Child, think a word without us.” Ihoilung Chuilo, EAC Hq, Longleng, in his keynote address, emphasised on the theme "Girl Force: Unscripted and Unstoppable ". He encouraged the girls by citing renowned personalities in the country, politician Sonia Gandhi and six-time world amateur boxing champion Mary Kom. The occasion also saw competition in 100 metre race, relay race, balloon bursting, sack race, luggage race, shouting competition, spoon race, tug of war and poem competition on the topic "Every girl child is special". Good Shepherd School emerged as the overall champion of the competitions for which certificates and gift hampers were given to all the winners. The programme was attended by students, teachers, civil societies and well-wishers.

Mokokchung: Awakening thoughts

[caption id="attachment_276514" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Col. Pradeep Kumar with students and others during the International Girl Child Day programme at Town Hall, Mokokchung on Friday.[/caption] The district administration, District Level Centre for Women-Mahila Shakti Kendra (BBBP) and Sakhi-One Stop Centre, Mokokchung, organised a programme to celebrate International Girl Child Day on the theme “Little girls with dreams become women with vision” at Town Hall, Mokokchung. Speaking on the occasion, special guest, commandant, 44 Assam Rifles, Col. Pradeep Kumar told the gathering that “we are celebrating the day to awaken our thoughts on showing respect to girls.” He added everyone would achieve what they want if they have faith in themselves and asked the girls not to limit themselves in any way, but to pursue their dreams and passion, informed DIPR through a press release. Resource person of the occasion Dr Ayangla, DPO (UIP and RCH), Mokokchung dwelt on girl child health care and personal hygiene, while Tiarenla of Town Higher Secondary School recited ‘girl child voice’. Deputy commissioner of Mokokchung Rajesh Soundararajan, in his concluding remark, asked the teachers and girl students to create awareness and spread the importance of Mahila Shakti Kendra which is a scheme to empower rural women through community participation to realise their full potential and asked them to visit One Stop Centre. In the extempore speech competition in which students from six schools in Mokokchung participated, Tonpangtsula Jamir of Edith Douglas School was declared the winner while Onenjungla LKR of Queen Mary Higher Secondary School won the second prize and Anamika of Jubilee Memorial School bagged third prize.

Peren: Empowerment

Peren district administration in collaboration with District Level Centre for Women-MSK and Sakhi-One Stop under the banner of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) observed International Day of Girl Child on the theme “Little girls with dreams become women with vision” at Town hall, Peren town on Friday to promote the fulfilment of girl’s rights and empowerment. An update from DIPR informed that the programme was graced by SDO (Civil), Rahul Mali. Mali told the gathering that ‘girls should be given equal status in all the decision-making bodies’, adding that without the involvement of the women in legislature, empowerment of women is impossible. He further stated that the traditional perspective of treating women should be curbed in order to uplift women in general. Mali also urged “the girls in the gathering to uphold their status as civilised citizens with exemplary services in the society.” In the extempore speech competition and debate on the topic: “Empowering a girl is the best way to develop our nation.” A painting competition was also conducted on ‘hygiene and healthcare, empowering of a girl, save a girl child’.

Wokha: Brighter tomorrow

Along with the rest of the world and state, Wokha district administration in collaboration with Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) and Saki-One Stop Centre (OSC), Wokha under the banner of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao organised the International Girl Child Day at Town hall, on the theme “Empowering Girls for a Brighter Tomorrow”. This was informed by DIPR through a press release made available to the media on Friday. Delivering the key note address, EAC (P), Wokha, Molosangla Ozkum said the significance of the day was to highlight and address the challenges faced by the girl child and stressed on the importance of ‘promoting girls empowerment by providing proper education.’ She added that ‘support of male counterpart is the need of the hour to reduce violence against girl child and to take the society forward.’ Ozkum stated that education is the “key to open door for us to grab the potential in us.” She added that every girl child has the right to education and urged the gathering to encourage and empower them without any discrimination and stigma. Speaking on girl child’s rights and protection, advocate Thungbeni Kikon, case worker, OSC, dwelled on the legal aspects and other important issues related to protection from physical and sexual abuse. He said that girls should be given same opportunity as the boys and treated at par with them. Dr Thungchanbeni S Patton from the department of Health & Family Welfare spoke on Girl child healthcare and personal hygiene. She told the gathering that ‘personal hygiene is very important as it is one of the most effective ways to protect oneself and others from different type of infections and diseases.’ She also spoke on the importance of keeping ‘hands clean and create the habit of washing hands’ to keep away from many kind of infections. While addressing on teen pregnancy and unplanned pregnancy, she said there are many ill-effects on the child health that can cause mental and physical problem which becomes a burden not only for the family but also for the society as well and urged the people to avoid such instances.