Nagaland: Students rally to create awareness on women empowerment

June 23, 2022 63 Views No Comment

250th birth anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy commemorated

Dimapur, June 23 (MExN): The Nagaland Art and Culture Department conducted awareness rallies on women empowerment in several districts of the state to commemorate the 250th birth anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy on June 22. Messages on the importance of education and women’s rights were shared on the occasion.

Chümoukedima: In Chümoukedima, the rally which began at the Registering Office, Department of Art & Culture, was flagged off by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Dr Kuzo Duadeo, witnessed the participation of 250 people including students from St Joseph’s Higher Secondary School and Government Middle School, and culminated at 7th Mile Village Gate.

According to a DIPR report, Dr Kuzo informed the participants that multiple programmes and schemes emphasizing on the empowerment of women are coming up as part of the commemoration of India’s 75th year of Independence.

He mentioned that education is the ‘most basic thing’ for the empowerment of women as it empowers a person to know what to do, what is right, and know what decision to take. He is also said to have stressed on gender equality and identity.

He urged the students to not only look for empowerment but strive to go for the best and give their best. As per the DIPR report, he maintained that in today’s competitive world, smartness is a new beauty, and also said that ‘bookish knowledge is not taking us anywhere if we are not practical in what we learn.’

Further, the DIPR report stated that the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation based in Kolkata, organised awareness rallies with the participation of at least 250 school children, teachers, and local district authorities in 250 districts all over India. It said that the Foundation takes up activities including providing assistance towards building up of adequate stock of books and reading materials; development of rural book deposit centres and mobile library services; assistance to libraries for construction or renovation of library buildings; in addition to providing assistance to libraries run by a voluntary organisations (NGOs), and assistance towards organisation of workshops, seminars, among several others.

Phek: Meanwhile in Phek Headquarters, the rally was flagged off from the District Hospital junction and culminated at the Government Higher Secondary School Auditorium.

Speaking on the occasion, EAC Phek, Tshelhi-u, while congratulating the participants, said that the anniversary marks the fight against evil practices like Sati and child marriage and discrimination against women and children. She reminded that women have equal rights to men and that their rights should not be neglected, a DIPR report stated.

Jalukie: The rally in Jalukie witnessed the participation of around 250 school students holding placards with the awareness messages. It was officially flagged off by special guest Peren EAC Ihoilung Chuilo at St Xavier Higher Secondary School, Jalukie.

On the occasion, EAC Chuilo gave a brief life history of Raja Ram Mohan Roy and his fight against the Sati system and about the inheritance rights of women which were not there before. According to a DIPR report, he also spoke about the need for a new generation of social reformers who can bring about change and empowerment to women in the 21st century and exhorted the students to be the next social reformers.

Tseminyu: At the Town Hall in Tseminyu town, SDO (Civil) Tsutsowe Kupa remarked that Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a strong proponent of women’s rights and education whose efforts led to the abolition of the Sati system.

He said that women empowerment does not mean that the movement is opposed to men; rather it is about empowering women mentally, emotionally, etc. Noting that the male literacy rate in Tseminyu is 88% as compared to 76% for females, Kupa further emphasised on education, stating that it “makes us think critically, and the ability to reason, education means to release creative energy and make us better citizens,” according to a DIPR report.

Assistant Research Officer and District Cultural Office, Kohima in-charge, Haichenlo Kath said that many students could not turn up due to ongoing summer break. However, around 100 students participated in the programme, the report stated.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/nagaland-students-rally-to-create-awareness-on-women-empowerment