The State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW) Nagaland, Women Helpline 181 and Sakhi-One Stop Centre of Kohima and Dimapur in collaboration with the Nagaland State Social Welfare Board, observed the weeklong celebration of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Week from January 21 to 26, under the theme “Empowering girls for a better tomorrow”.
The six-day program had varied activities and awareness programs targeting stakeholders of all age groups at large. One of the important objectives of this program was to disseminate information on various issues concerning the Girl Child through media, distribution of pamphlets, etc. Radio messages on Health and Nutrition by the POSHAN Abhiyan Scheme and The Implications of Early Child Marriage and POCSO Act by the Integrated Child Protection Society (ICPS) both under the department of Social Welfare, were also aired during this week as part of the BBBP campaign.
The celebration started off with a Door-to-Door Awareness Campaign at Officers’ Hill, New Market and Jotsoma in Kohima and Kuda Village, Residency Colony and PWD Colony in Dimapur. A total number of 105 households were covered under this campaign, including vegetable vendors in and around these places. Posters and stickers were pasted on Panchayats, Anganwadi Centres and other locations.
Slogan and drawing competitions were also part of the campaign. An awareness program was also held at Dimapur Government College in collaboration with District Legal Services Authority.
Teams also visited the Maternity Wards of Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima and District Hospital Dimapur. An awareness program was also held at Primary Health Centre (PHC), P. Khel and Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC), D. Khel.
A street play at the Old MLA Hostel Junction in Kohima was performed by volunteers from Science College Evangelical Union, Kohima on issues highlighted under the BBBP campaign’s theme. Questions on the disparity of literacy rates of boys and girls were also raised in one of the acts, with a performer asking why Nagaland currently has a literacy rate of 83% for boys and 76% for girls.
A signature campaign on the theme, Empowering Girls for a Better Tomorrow, was conducted throughout the week.
To culminate the weeklong celebrations, a program was held at the office of Nagaland State Social Welfare Board with the staff.