KOHIMA, Jan 25: In a collaborative effort between the Department of Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission and the Ministry of Rural Development, a crucial consultative meeting on Gender Campaign 2 took place at the Secretariat Conference Hall, Kohima, on January 25, 2024.
Commissioner & Secretary Kevisa Kense, IAS, delivered a keynote address during the meeting, followed by a comprehensive presentation on Gender Campaign and partnership by State Program Manager- SISD, NSRLM, Khriezovonu Lhoungu.
The National campaign against gender-based violence in India, the focus of the meeting, aims to address and combat the pervasive issue of violence against women. The campaign seeks to create awareness and mobilize public opinion to bring about a change in societal attitudes towards gender-based violence.
Government entities at both central and state levels play a significant role in formulating and implementing policies and programs related to gender equality and combating gender-based violence. Various State Departments, including Social Welfare, Justice and Law, Health and Family Welfare, Home, Planning and Coordination, State Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and Tribal Affairs, were assigned roles for enacting and enforcing laws, allocating resources, and providing essential services such as helplines, shelters, and counseling centers for survivors.
Civil society organizations, such as Naga Mothers Association and Eastern Naga Women Association, contribute significantly to the gender campaign in India. Their role involves mobilizing public opinion, conducting research and documentation, and engaging in advocacy and policy dialogues to address gender-based violence and promote gender equality in their respective blocks and villages.
The School Education Department, as one of the stakeholders, has been directed to conduct workshops focusing on the girl child and School Management Committees (SMCs) for issues related to the girl child, including admission drives for dropouts and awareness campaigns on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO).
The specific objectives of the campaign include raising awareness, sensitizing society, preventing and deterring gender-based violence, supporting and assisting survivors, influencing policy and legal reforms, and promoting gender equality. The campaign aims to challenge and break down ingrained gender norms and stereotypes that perpetuate violence against women. (DIPR)