Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 24
To spread the message of “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” scheme to the public, several artistes from different part of the north eastern states today performed at the North East Folk Dance Fest 2017 organized by the department of social welfare and the State Resource Centre for Women in collaboration with Song & Drama Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India here at SIRD Auditorium, Kohima.
The overall goal of “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” is to celebrate the girl child and enable her education. The scheme aims to prevent gender biased sex selective elimination, to ensure survival and protection of the girl child and to ensure education and participation of the girl child.
Speaking on the occasion, O.T. Chingmak Chang, IAS, secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Department of Social Welfare said that in Nagaland, “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao,” was launched officially on October 13, 2015 by chief minister of Nagaland. With this, a programme called “Safe the girl child, educate her” is being implemented in the state under State Resource Centre for Women and in the district of Longleng.
This scheme is to ensure that the future of girls is empowered through the means of education. For centuries, women had been living under the shadow of man, he said adding “Now a time has come that all men and women are brought-up equally- educationally, socially and economically,” he said.
He also stressed on the need to help strengthen this scheme through convergence and collaborative efforts of various departments. He called upon the people to come forward and support girl child.
Dhruv Awasthi, Deputy Director, Song & Drama Division, Ministry of information & broadcasting said that the Song and Drama division is the biggest media which goes from village to village in India for intra personal communication. He also said that the division has around 10,000 artistes from all over India and communication is done mostly through folk and traditional media. He further added that twelve thousand teams are already registered members in the Song & Drama Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in India. He also said all government policies are linked together and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is one among many schemes by the Government of India for the welfare of women and children. He stated that this year the Song & Drama Division is planning twenty one thousand shows which will cover 161 identified districts all over India.
Earlier, T. Merangtsungba Aier, Director, Social Welfare delivered welcome address. The inaugural programme was chaired by Daisy Mezhur, Mission Director, State Resource Centre for Women and secretary Nagaland State Social Welfare Board.
Vote of thanks as proposed by Bano Vinito, chairperson Nagaland State Social Welfare Board. Artistes from Song & Drama Division, Guwahati Centre, Samannay Kshetra, Guwahati, Kekhrie Troupe, Kohima, Sanghati Sanskritik Sangstha, Agartala and Zion Cultural Troupe, Kohima performed at the fest. Dreamz Unlimited also rendered special appearance.
