Girl Child Week gets underway
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 11, 2013:
The national Girl Child Week-2013 observance commenced from today with the inaugural programme held today at Hotel Imphal conference hall, where a workshop on "Innovating for Girls' Education" was also organised to commemorate the event.
The National Week inauguration programme was held with Manipur State Women Commission chairperson Dr Ibetombi Devi, Manipur State Social Welfare Board president Ch Leibaklotpi Devi and Manipur State Child Commission chairman A Nabachandra Singh as the chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.
Presenting the key-note address event host Manipur State Social Welfare Board's secretary N Geeta Devi informed that as per resolution of the UN on December 19, 2011 for observance of international Day of the Girl Child on october 11 the National Girl Child Week is being observed on this day from the year 2012. Conveying that the UN's objective for observing the event is to make the people aware about various atrocities committed against the girl child such as rape, molest, social harassment, discrimination and even girl child infanticide, Geeta stated that for the betterment of the girl child certain protective measures including right for survival and education are being granted constitutional statute.
Stressing on the need for mandatory education of the girl child, the secretary opined that education would be helpful in eradicating the problem of gender discrimination from the society.
According to Board chairperson Ch Leibaklotpi Devi today's workshop is being organised with the financial assistance of the Central Government under the objective of highlighting and chalking up effective measures for preventing problems besetting the girl child.
The Board has also been organising awareness campaigns on a regular basis to not only make the people understand rights of the girl child but also collect information on the educational status of the girl child, she maintained.
As a resource person speaking on the topic 'Discrimination and violence against girls and violation of their rights', advocate Leitanthem Chandrakumar referring to the recent death sentence verdict by the Court against four convicted in the Delhi rape case conceded that similar punitive action could not be initiated against rape accused in Manipur due to lack of witnesses.
As people do not volunteer to be witness in rape cases chargesheet against the accused cannot be filed in time thus weakening the case, explained the advocate who also stated that legal practitioners too need to be very competent to ensure that the guilty repent for their inhumane conduct.
Chandrakumar also exhorted the womenfolk to take pro-active role in tackling crime against women and girl child instead of living under the false concept that a woman should remain within the confines of the home.
The technical session of the workshop also had social worker L Laxmi Devi deliberating on 'child trafficking' and counsellor in-charge, FCC Unit Police HQs Dr S Romiobala Devi on 'violence against women and girl child'.