Ganjam District to Be Felicitated for Child Rights Initiatives

Berhampur: Ganjam district will be felicitated by Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) for its proactive steps towards ensuring rights to children and adolescents.

The district administration will be awarded on the occasion of the 9th Foundation Day of OSCPCR, which is scheduled to be held during November 1 and 2 at KIIT Convention Hall in Bhubaneswar.

In a letter to Ganjam Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange, OSCPCR Chairperson Sandhyabati Pradhan said, “Taking into consideration of the proactive steps undertaken towards ensuring rights to children and adolescents, the Commission (OSCPCR) has decided to felicitate you on observance of its 9th Foundation”.

The Collector is expected to receive the award on November 1, sources said.

Recently, the Ganjam administration has undertaken a slew of innovative measures, including Nirbhaya Kadhi and Mo Gelha Jhia for ensuring rights to children and adolescents.

The Nirbhaya Kadhi, a monthly programme usually held on third Saturday at the Anganwadi Kendra, has been widely appreciated across the State as it makes an impact in reducing child marriage in the district. It creates awareness among the people about the prevailing laws that restricts them to marry off girls at tender age.

The ‘Mo Gelha Jhia’ programme, a first of its kind in the country, proved highly successful in narrowing down the gap in the child sex ratio in the district. Under the programme, the administration celebrates birthday of every girl born in the district.

Apart from these programmes, the admin also launched several measures to address issues of issues of school dropout and child labour in the district.

OSCPCR in collaboration with Women & Child Development & Mission Shakti Department, Department of Labour & ESI, UNICEF Odisha, ActionAid & Save the Children, is observing its 9th Foundation Day.