On Monday 24 January National Girl Child Day was celebrated around the country. Every year the day is marked to raise awareness to promote the rights, education, health, and nutrition of the girl child across the country. The day was initiated by the Ministry of Women and child development, providing support and opportunity for girls in India.

Caritas India also joined this initiative under its Surokhit Shaishav – Promoting safe childhood program in West Bengal through a campaign on spreading awareness to vaccinate all children 15 – 18 years with the primary focus on Girl child immunization. The campaign #YES TO VACCINE…. NO TO CORONA#  started on 24^th January National Girl Child Day and will end on 8^th March International girl child day. The campaign will support government vaccination for children as this is detrimental to safe school opening. The campaign will support local government across the phases once it also opens for other children age groups.  The campaign will also create community and public awareness on the inequalities faced by the girl child in our society. The campaign’s aim is to promote awareness of the rights of the girl child especially in areas of education, health, and nutrition, giving them opportunities like everyone else and will strive to remove gender-based biases. 

Also, a one-day event was observed across all the Seven partners (Anugyalaya Darjeeling Diocese Social Service Society, Bal Suraksha Abhiyan, Seva Kendra Siliguri, Social Welfare Institute Raigunj, Krishnagar Cathedral Charitable Social Society, Suprava Panchashila Mahila Udyog Samiti, and Kolkata Mary Ward Social Service Society) observed the National Girl Child Day across West Bengal to raise the consciousness of the society towards girl child so that she is valued, appreciated and respected. 

On this occasion, Ms Sakshi Rai, the Navodaya Children Club member and Vice President, National Inclusive Children’s Parliament was selected as Brand Ambassador for Child Rights and Protection for the district of Darjeeling and Kalimpong and Sikkim State for one year. She was felicitated by Fr (Dr.) Samuel Lepcha, Director, Anugyalaya Darjeeling Diocese Social Service Society for her exemplary efforts. She has been an ardent advocate on cases related to child rights violations at the district and national level and also instrumental in the reformation of Block & Village level child protection committees and District Task Force, bodies mandated by the government for the protection of children. 

At Tukvar Tea Estate in Darjeeling, child leaders organized a rally “Save A Girl Child” and “Gender Equality” flagged off by Shri Pradeep Vitrakoti, Officer-In-Charge of Singamari police OutPost and Tea Garden Manager Shri Ravi Jhakmola. This is one such tea garden in Darjeeling, which supports and advocates for child rights and has no child labor engaged in their estate. 

As a part of the celebration, a Learning Centre was inaugurated at Panighata Tea garden by Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Panighata Police Out Post Mr Jyotish Chandra Roy. This was a very big day for child leaders of Panighata Tea Garden as their tireless efforts succeeded in revamping an unused Crèche into a functional learning center. Mr Jyotish Chandra Roy appreciated the efforts, willpower, and dedication of child leaders who took a courageous step towards the betterment of children in their village, by transforming this unused crèche into a vibrant learning centre for children. The official approval letter by Tea Garden Committee members was handed over to children and community members by Mr.Amar Gurung, Mr. Pranay Chettri, and Mr Dhan Kumar Rai.

The Child Leader of Siliguri Ward Municipality and Kalimpong District to observe National Girl Child Day. Children from the Child Rights Protection Help Desk ( CRPD) sent out the message that no single girl child to be left from being vaccinated due to lack of documents. To motivate these children ICDS centre worker Mrs Aparna Sen came to the help desk and assured her full support to get children vaccinated. 

At Murshidabad District under Farakka Block, village level awareness sessions on the importance of vaccination, rally by children vaccination camps were organized in collaboration with the Block Medical Officer Health (BMOH). 70 children were vaccinated with the efforts of Caritas India’s partner Krishnagar Cathedral Social Society.  

Suprava Panchashila Mahila Uddyog Samiti’s Child Leaders took the initiative to eliminate gender-based discrimination in society and bring about change in behaviour towards the girl on National Girl Child Day. Presenting before District Labour Commissioner (DLC) Murshidabad, Smt. Arunima Biswas; Officer In Charge Women Police Station Berhampore, Smt. Soma Bal; Secretary, Aponjon Club Bishwanath Dey, Primary Head Teacher Mr. Pranabesh Biswas two very heart touching dramas on girl child marriage and girl child education.

“I am overwhelmed and speechless by the performance of children. This kind of performance by children will empower them to change the mindset of the community. Their right to participation is evident and this will bring about transformative change in community towards rights of children,” words expressed by Smt Arunia Biswas, DLC , Murshidabad.

Mr Sanjay Sarkar, Pradhan and Mrs Mamoni Das Upa Prashan of Sangrampur Gram Panchayat, North 24 Parganas flagged offed vaccination drive #Vaccine to the last Girl # through miking in all intervention villages of Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre.

National Girl Child Day 2022, observed by Caritas India’s partners were highlighted in local media – newspaper, TV channels. In social network media – Facebook and youtube.

Caritas India is committed to empowering the Girl Child by creating equal opportunities for them and ending discrimination based on gender. Caritas will continue celebrating the achievements of girls’ children in various fields and their significant contribution to nation-building.