Nagaland Adolescent Girls Club, under the aegis of Nagaland State Social Welfare Board (NSSWB) held its Annual Meet cum Advent Christmas Celebration 2022 with the theme, “Live the Promise” with Joint Secretary, Department of Social Welfare & Secretary, Nagaland State Social Welfare Board, Mhathung Tsanglao as the Special Guest at Auditorium Hall, State Institute of Rural Development, Kohima on 7th December 2022.
While reflecting on the journey of NAGC, Supervisor, NSSWB, Juliana Medom, reflected on the NAGC was officially launched on 22nd May 2008 and ever since, NAGC has been initiating programmes such as awareness drive on sexual abuse, career guidance, skill development, cleanliness drives, pipe band, guitar classes, self-defence classes, the Good Samaritan work, where the AGC girls go and take care of the elderly and ‘The red letter box’ which is kept in school of NAGC members to write their grievances and social & psychological problems. NAGC also has been converging with departments; Health department on food safety, Nagaland State Legal Services on the theme, ‘Know your rights campaign’ where the girls were sensitised on POCSO Act, and schemes under Social Welfare department such as 1098 Child line, 181 Women Helpline and One Stop Centre, Sukanya Samriddhi Account (Girl Child Prosperity Account) under Department of Postal.
During the event, Mhathung Tsanglao while pointing the importance of Adolescent Girls Club program stated, the youths of today are the leaders and futures of tomorrow and the driving force of tomorrow’s economy for the nation. Adolescents in the age group of 10-19 years form about 20% of India’s population and on this 250 million adolescents, which is around 47% of the population are girls, half the population of driving force of the future be a part of next 5 to 10 years.
Government of India and various NGOs and government organizations are involved in promoting wellbeing of the girl child, Nagaland Adolescent Girls Club being one initiative. Programs like NAGC has raised confidence and self-esteem in the girl participants through various programs and training skills and imparted particular knowledge on sexual and reproductive health and girl’s legal rights. He also noted adolescents especially girls are vulnerable to emotional and psychological problems because their brain are still developing and their bodies are changing quickly and NAGC is also an important a platform to raise their concern to the assigned teacher in charge.
Reflecting on the context of our society, he pointed there are still certain culture and social attitudes about girls roles and the division of labour which influence girls status immensely and this and girls he tends to have negative impact. Adolescent girls needs to be encourage to realize their potential to make them feel equally capable to boys. He then encouraged the AGC girls to encourage their brothers at home to participate in what is considered girls or women chores and create awareness among family.
Tsanglao in his concluding speech urged the AGC girls to be responsible and have self-awareness and self-respective and not look down on others, respect isn’t commanded but earned by showing with their behaviour and virtues that they possess and to be a role model to their peers and through and be the good ambassadors for NAGC.
During the occasion, along with the rest of the world observing the 16th Days Activism against Gender Based Violence among Women, Vekhwusaku Dahuo, Senior Supervisor, 181 Women Helpline, highlighted on ‘The Purple Ribbon Campaign’ encouraging all the present audience to support the campaign and help spread the message that violence of any kind is unacceptable and violence is deeply rooted in inequality.
Special numbers were presented by students of Oking Christian School, Kohima and Mezhur Higher Secondary School while Ketoulhoutuo Zuyie presented a special instrumental piece. The programme was ended with a vote of thanks from Khriezotuolie Chase, Programme Assistant, NAGC.
It may be mentioned that any woman facing violence, or anyone on her behalf may seek help at the Women Helpline (Dial 181/ 9485239098) or Sakhi- One Stop Centres which are set up in 11 district of the state.
(DIPR)
