FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT
DIBRUGARH, Jan 4: In order to sensitize people of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts, the Centre for Magement Studies, Dibrugarh University (CMSDU) and North East Society for the Promotion of Youth & Masses (NESPYM) with the support of CHILDLINE, Dibrugarh and CHILDLINE, Tinsukia undertook a campaign on preventing violence against the girl child recently at eight blocks of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.
In Dibrugarh district, the blocks covered were Barboruah, Khowang, Joypur and Tengakhat while in Tinsukia district, the blocks covered were Guijan, Hapjan, Margherita and Itakholi. In each of the blocks there were community meetings and road shows on the subject wherein a suitably decorated open vehicle was used. The issues that were highlighted were early marriage, child labour (particularly domestic child labour), child sexual abuse and exploitation and child trafficking.
Prior to the campaign, a workshop was held at the premises of the centre to sensitize the students and faculty members of the centre along with the selected student volunteers of the campaign on the issues. The workshop was addressed by the Director, CMSDU, Prof. A B Rajkonwar and Director, NESPYM, Dr Chiranjeeb Kakoty. The centre will also be a partner institute of tiol Action & Coordition Group for Ending Violence against Children (CG EVAC), India. This campaign is expected to be a flag bearer as far as institutiol involvement is concerned in preventing violence against the girl child.
All children have a right to a safe and secure childhood. But violence against children, especially the girl child is a grim reality across the world. Starting from preconception sex selection to foeticide to female infanticide to neglect of the girl child to forced labour to sexual abuse and exploitation to forced and coerced marriage and trafficking and sale, the girl child is more vulnerable to violence and exploitation.