International Day of Girl Child
SHILLONG: Matching steps with the rest of the world, the International Day of Girl Child was observed in the city with special emphasis being laid on the importance of girl education.
In this connection, a day-long workshop was organized by the State Social Welfare Department at Arts and Culture Hall, State Central Library here on Friday.
The observation supported more opportunity for girls, and increased awareness of inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender. This inequality included areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence and unfree child marriage.
Highlighting the importance of girl education, Social Welfare Director HM Shangpliang said that contrary to most of mainland India, a girl child enjoys an equal standing with the male counterpart in Meghalaya.
However, discrimination is still visible when it comes to imparting education to the children especially in rural areas, Shangpliang said adding “In the rural areas, the role of a girl child is limited to looking after the house and doing all the household chores and as far as education is concerned, a girl child is often deprived of the chance to go to school.”
“We have to break the myth that learning is not for girls but only boys and this will happen if men perceive the women as equals,” the director said adding that no doubt, women are as capable as the men in terms of professionalism and the like while stressing on the need to change the mindset of people especially the rural populace.
Impressing upon the need to develop a sense of cooperation among all the stakeholders, Shangpliang said that there is an immediate need to create awareness among the masses on the crucial role played by a woman in society and the need to treat them equally.
Meanwhile, addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Chairperson of the Meghalaya State for Women Commission Theilin Phanbuh said that a girl child needs more attention in her childhood, and she should be treated with love and care as she will one day grow up to be a mother.
“If a mother is healthy, her child will also be healthy and this will bring about a healthy generation. These are the issues which should be looked upon, to ensure that enough nutritional diet is provided to a child at a tender age to enable her to be healthy,” Phanbuh said.
Ruing the increasing trend of human trafficking in the state and region as a whole, Phanbuh said that some young girls especially those living in the rural areas often fall victim to human trafficking owing to their innocence and poverty. “They are taken from the rural areas by some people with a promise to provide education and employment but brought to the cities for trafficking,” Phanbuh added.
Emphasizing on the need to focus on education, the Women’s Commission chairperson said “We need to engage ourselves and concentrate on education because it is the tool to eradicate poverty,” adding that the government needs to introduce sponsorship programmes to support the girls and women who are willing to work in various fields so that they can become self sufficient and independent.
The programme saw the attendance of girls from the government shelter home, SOS village in Umiam, Anne Margareth Barr at Kharang village in East Khasi Hills, AW Thomas Children Home in Shillong and St Mary’s Convent Orphanage in the city.