Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 104/11

WORKSHOP ON RIGHTS OF GIRL CHILD AND FUTURE IMPLICATIONS OF IMBALANCED SEX RATIO HELD

Shillong, March 1, 2011: “The girl child will be the proprietor and mother of tomorrow who will shape the destiny of the society”, said Meghalaya Minister for Social Welfare, Mr. J A Lyngdoh at the two-day workshop on “Rights of Girl Child and future implications of Imbalanced Sex Ratio”. The workshop was inaugurated today, 1st March, 2011 at St. Mary’s College of Teacher Education, Shillong and is being organized by Meghalaya State Social Welfare Board, Shillong in collaboration with Women for Integrated Sustainable Empowerment (WISE), Shillong. Also present at the inaugural function were Mrs. Susanna K Marak, Chairman, Meghalaya State Women Commission as Guest of Honour, Ms. L Jyrwa, Additional Director Social Welfare, Sr. Judith of WISE, officials from the Social Welfare Department, NGOs, Supervisors and Anganwadi workers.

According to Mrs. O B Tariang, Chairman, Meghalaya State Social Welfare Board, the aim of the workshop is to empower voluntary organizations to address various constraints and problems faced by a girl child, to disseminate information and training to participants raising the profile of girls and support them to become role models. She said that the workshop will also focus on the need to empower and support adolescent girls so that they can stand on their two own feet.

In his inaugural speech, Mr. Lyngdoh said that a child is a divine gift to parents and this decision can not and must not be questioned. Stating that a girl child requires additional protection, he said that as per UNICEF guidelines the girl child must get equal opportunities to education, medicine, healthcare facilities and workplace. Mr. Lyngdoh lamented the fact that even in this modern era where humankind are considered liberal and broad-minded, atrocities on girl child like rape, molestation, child marriage, early marriage, dowry and labour still prevails and girls are treated with indifference and considered as liabilities and burden. To address this problem, Mr. Lyngdoh informed that the Government of India has introduced a scheme known as Integrated Children Protection Scheme (ICPS) which would be implemented in this current financial year which he hoped will go a long way in protecting the rights of children.

While expressing happiness that Meghalaya, which is a matrilineal society, equal rights are given to male and female, at the same time he expressed sadness that rape and many forms of abuses against girls have started taking firm roots in the State,. Therefore, he appealed to the line departments, NGOs and citizens of the State to take the responsibility in ensuring that the rights and life of the girl child is protected adding that “the society will shine only if a girl child is given an opportunity to showcase her talents and enjoy her rights with no discrimination”.

Mrs. Susanna K Marak, in her speech as the Guest of Honour said that one of the most important tenets of Child Rights is ensuring their basic right to good health, nutrition, education and freedom from violence, abuse and exploitation. Informing that in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations has proclaimed that childhood is entitled to special care and assistance, she said that the child should be fully prepared to live an individual life in society, and brought up in the spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity, Stating that sex selection/determination of sex of the foetus is prohibited by law, she said that sex determination of the foetus is discrimination against the girl child and has an adverse effects decreasing the number of females in the society and can increase sex related crimes and violence against women. Such imbalances are also likely to cause a rise in social problems like dowry, forced polyandry, rape, child marriages, bride selling and kidnapping of women for marriage, she added. For the eradication of child marriage, she informed that the Government of India has enacted the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 replacing the earlier legislation of Child Marriage Act 1929.

Mrs. Marak also informed that as per the Census, Government of India 2001, Meghalaya has a sex ratio at 972 female to 1000 males which is higher than the national average of 933 females to 1000 males but is lower than Kerala with the female population of 1058 per 1000 males. The State with lowest female sex ratio is Haryana with 861 to 1000 males. Union Territory with highest female sex ratio is Pondicherry with 1001 to 1000 males and the lowest female sex ratio is Daman and Diu with 710 to 1000 males. District with highest female sex ratio is Mahe (Pondicherry) 1,147 per 1000 males and the lowest is Daman (Daman & Diu) 59 per 1000 males.

Press Release No. 105/11

SIP HELD AT KHULIA MARMAIN AND UMTNGAM

Shillong, March 1, 2011: The office of the District Public Relations Officer, Ri Bhoi District in collaboration with the District Administration, Ri Bhoi organized two Special Interactive Programmes (SIP) on the theme Development and Growth for All at Khulia village, Marmain and Umtngam village on February 24 and 28, 2011 respectively. While the programme at Khulia was inaugurated by Mrs. I Mawlong, ADM, Ri Bhoi, the programme at Umtngam was attended by Mr. R Nongkhlaw, Assistant Director of Information & Public Relations (ADIPR), Shillong as the Chief Guest.

At Khulia, resource persons from four developmental departments which included Mrs. R B Lyngwa from Sericulture, Mrs. D Nongpiur of Agriculture, Mr. J Shadap, JE, Water Resources and Mr. P Suting from Handloom Department delivered speeches on matters relating to the implementation of schemes, on-going schemes and schemes available for the welfare of the people of the District.

In her speech, Mrs. Mawlong lauded the office of the DPRO, Ri Bhoi for organizing the programme which helps to educate the general public, particularly in remote areas, about various schemes and projects implemented by the government through various departments. She said many people in rural areas are not aware of the availability of different type of schemes nor do they understand the technique on how to obtain the scheme. Lamenting on the fact that many schemes sanctioned by the government does not reach the people due to lack of communication between the government and the people, she said that this programme is a platform where departments can highlight and explain about various schemes for the benefit of the people and for the public to seek information from the officials about the schemes and projects of the government for their benefit.

Apart from lectures and interaction, sports activities like race, high jump, cock fight, musical chair etc and drawing competition was also conducted for school children. The day ended with prize distribution to the winners by the Chief Guest and resource persons.

At Umtngam, the resource persons included Mrs. A Blah of Handloom department, Mr. R Wankhar of Sericulture and Mr. C O Maring from Water Resources department.

Mr. R Nongkhlaw, ADIPR, Shillong, in his speech said that many people are not aware of the availability of Central and State Schemes meant for the public. He hoped that the programme will not only end with lectures but will be translated into action for the welfare of the public. He called upon the people to extend their cooperation with the government for the successful implementation of scheme for their overall development.

Sports and games and different competitions were organized during the day long programme which ended with the prize distribution to the winners.

Press Release No. 106/11

TRAINING PROGRAMME ON TOTAL SANITATION CAMPAIGN

Shillong, March 1, 2011: A five days training programme on Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) led by the team of Feedback Ventures Group ended successfully recently at SGSY Training Hall, Baghmara, South Garo Hills.

The Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman District Water & Sanitation Mission (DWSM), Dr. B D R Tiwari, in his speech during the training session, expressed the need for faster implementation of TSC works to make all rural villages fully sanitized within the time frame. Under TSC, the DWSM is to ensure that all BPL families as well as APL families should have access to safe sanitation and subsequently to ensure that whole village is fully sanitized by constructing safe toilets in individual households who does not have this basic need and also for schools/anganwadis. He also mentioned that under TSC and NREGS, there are awards and incentives for the cleanest village.

Earlier, Mr. N P Gupta, EE PHE said that that the DWSM is the District level body whose primary function is to formulate, implement and monitor functioning of water supply and sanitation for villages in the District. Moreover, this campaign is basically meant to put forward the dedicated workers on TSC & DWSM activities, he added.

Mr. Daniel Ingty, Project Director MRDS, Mr. R P Marak, PD, DRDA, Mr. D D Sangma, ADC also spoke on the occasion.

Mr. Prakash Birendra and Mrs. Amrita of Feedback Venture Group, Gurgaon were the master trainers of these five day target-oriented mission training programme. The training programme was attended by BDOs of four blocks of the District, CDPOs, District officials, NGOs and the public.

In the five day training, the master trainees and the people of ten localities that were covered expressed their enthusiasm and zeal to make themselves open-defecation free localities. In the training, it is also resolved that within a month, all the villages in South Garo Hills District will be open-defecation free District. The Deputy Commissioner also said that under Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) every household will be sanitized within a stipulated time.