With an objective to make Dimapur a child friendly city, ANMA Integrated Development Organisation (AIDA)’s “Child Friendly Dimapur” program was launched by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan on September 29 at AIDA Campus.
A press release by AIDA stated that in a welcome address, executive director of AIDA, Rev. Fr. Roy George SDB said, “A child friendly city is a city or community where the voices, needs, priorities and rights of children are an integral part of public policies, programmes and decisions”.
He said “Child Friendly Dimapur” was closely aligned with the goals and objectives as enunciated by UNICEF and that the programme aims to make Dimapur a child friendly city where all children, without discrimination of any kind, have access to their right to live in secure, enabling environments, and develop to their full potential.
In his speech after unveiling the logo of “Child Friendly Dimapur”, chief guest, Rajesh Soundrarajan appreciated AIDA for initiating the program, saying that ensuring children their rights was not a special favour done to children but that it was the duty of the government, non-governmental organizations and civil societies.
Stating that women and children’s issues are interlinked, the DC stressed on the importance of paying more attention on children’s mental health as there was a worrying trend of mental health crisis among children.
Soundrarajan said realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was not possible without realizing the rights of children. The DC also released a magazine on the Covid-19 first wave activities of AIDA, under the title “AIDA’s response to COVID-19 first wave”.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Jose Kuruvachira SDB, Provincial Salesians of Don Bosco, the province of Dimapur spoke about child friendly city initiative as an important work of the Salesians of Don Bosco.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Jose also stressed on the importance of collaboration of all good willed: Civil society, police, duty bearers, service providers, NGOs, civil administration, business and media.
In his speech, Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) administrator, Albert Ezung congratulated AIDA for successfully launching the initiative and said that children’s rights need to be accorded which it deserves.
The program coordinator, Child Friendly Dimapur, Katia Chakre said the focus of the initiative was leveraging and enhancing children’s capacities of agency to make their voices heard for justice, peace, equality, entitlements and rights by creating those spaces, those mechanisms, for the children and young people to be heard.
The programme was launched in the presence of representatives of various government departments, civil societies, educational institutions and NGOs working with and for children in Dimapur. The programme began with the word of God and prayer lead by the associate director of AIDA, Rev. Fr. T. T. Joseph and lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries.