In a significant push towards empowering the girl child and addressing systemic challenges, the Kohima District Administration in collaboration with SANKALP - District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), Sakhi-One Stop Centre (OSC), and the Social Welfare Department-observed the International Day of the Girl Child at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall, Kohima.
Organised under the global theme "End Child Marriage and Invest in Girl's Rights," the programme aimed to amplify girls' voices, promote their empowerment, and tackle the human rights challenges and discrimination they face globally.
Delivering the keynote address, B. Henok Buchem, Deputy Commissioner & Chairman of the DLC for Mission Shakti, Kohima invoked the deep-rooted proverb, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." He underscored that educating a girl empowers not just an individual, but generations to come.
Sharing a personal tribute to his late mother, DC Buchem recounted how she pursued her studies to become a nurse and serve her community, leaving a legacy of humility, service, and sacrifice. The Deputy Commissioner also shared moving encounters with vulnerable individuals from his administrative work, including a child who lost both parents during the pandemic and a struggling single-parent family. He urged the gathering to actively extend support to such families through personal initiatives or available government welfare schemes.
Buchem also highlighted the importance of the ongoing HPV vaccine drive to prevent cervical cancer, noting that public awareness remains low and calling for urgent, widespread sensitization. He concluded by urging all attendees to renew their pledge to eliminate child marriage and build a safer, more equitable society.
During the technical sessions, Wapanginla Kichu, Member of the Child Welfare Committee, outlined the foundational rights of children, emphasizing the rights to education, protection, equality, expression, healthcare, and development, alongside legal guards against child labor, sexual harassment, and child marriage.
Expanding on the legal mechanisms, Vimenu Richa, Centre Administrator of OSC Kohima and Master Child Marriage Prohibition Officer, stressed the strict enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. She highlighted the persistent magnitude of child marriage and child labor in India, urging stakeholders to look beyond official reports to understand the true scale of the issue.
Sunjib Rana, Advocate and Panel Lawyer for the Kohima DLSA, provided critical insights into the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He shared a sobering statistic, stating that more than 70% of perpetrators under the POCSO Act are known to the victims-including family members, neighbours, relatives, friends, or acquaintances rather than strangers.
Rana called on educational institutions to facilitate early detection and encourage open dialogue, stressing the importance of sensitizing boys and girls, as well as parents. He further appealed to NGOs and community organizations not to obstruct legal procedures in such cases, while strongly reminding the media to legally protect the identity of victims.
The event, chaired by Ane Khieya, EAC Kohima, commenced with a welcome address by Anyile Khamo, District Programme Officer & District Nodal Officer for Mission Shakti.
A captivating special song was performed by Medopheno, a Class 11 student from Government Higher Secondary School, Jotsoma. Following this, Akhonuo Pfusenuo, a recipient of the "Educate Her, Empower Her" BBBP scholarship, delivered a moving speech titled "End Child Marriage: Let Girls Dream, Learn and Lead". The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Kesoneinuo, Gender Specialist at DHEW Kohima.
(Zuchumo Kithan, IA Kohima)
