Press Release from Women, Child, Senior Citizen, Divyangjan Welfare Department, Namchi District

The program had the presence of EMRS Principal Sir Amar Kanti Janan, Ms. Sophia Lepcha AD Nutrition cum BBBP Nodal Officer, Ms. Reshma Subba Health Educator Namchi District Hospital, Ms. Smriti Rai Probation Officer DCP Unit, Ms. Hema Devi Sharma DMC HUB for the empowerment of women and the teachers of the school.

Ms Sophia Lepcha Nodal Officer for BBBP cum AD Nutrition provided valuable insights into the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on January 22, 2015 under the Women and Child Development Department.

She discussed the objectives of the BBBP programme and its impact on promoting gender equality and empowering girls. She also highlighted the Sukhanya Samriddhi Yojana, a savings scheme for the girl child introduced through BBBP. Additionally, she informed the legal minimum marriage age of 21 for boys and 18 for girls and encouraged gender equality, community participation.

Ms Smriti Rai Probation Officer Women and Child Department conducted an informative session on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012. During the session, she emphasised that the act provides protection to both boys and girls under the age of 18.

In addition, she urged the teachers of school to be attentive towards the behavioral changes of the children, as it may be a kind of abuse that the children might be facing at the time. With that she said, teachers are the primary approach of the students so they must be vigilant at all times.

she shared important child-related helpline numbers, including the emergency helpline number: 1098 to ensure the safety and well-being of children. She also added that suggestions/complain box at school premises is compulsory according to POCSO Act.

Ms Reshma Subba Health Educator of Namchi District Hospital highlighted about the adolescent stage both girl child and boy child goes through. She also spoke about physical, mental, social changes they go through.

She explained that there are two types of stress, one is good and the other is bad. Stress is good but when it exceeds certain limit than it might be harmful, which can lead to mental Health issues like depression.

She in her talk with a ballon fun game made students understand how excessive situationship or build up of emotions can lead to depression. So she urged students to share their emotions or feelings to their friends or teachers if needed so that it does not lead to severe mental health issues.

She also addressed the issue on Substance Abuse. She said that excessive use of any substance for pleasure is called substance Abuse. She also said that we have socially accepted substances like alcohol, tobacco, cigarette which if consumed excessively can lead to many health issues.

She explained in simple way how students come into substance abuse, it might be because of peer pressure, curiosity, family issues and many more. She also added that children are becoming addicted to Mobile phones and it is also a kind of addiction which is harmful for them.

In her talk she also added that any kind of sickness, be it mental, addiction etc it must be looked upon the same as any kind of physical sickness so that it becomes easier for the people fighting against it.