Imphal: A programme on “Observance of National Girl Child Day –2025 cum Sensitization Programme on Gender Discrimination & PC-PNDT Act” was held at the Heritage Hall, IMA, Lamphelpat on WEdnesday. The programme was organized jointly by Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique (PC-PNDT), Directorate of Family Welfare Services, Manipur and State Health Society, NHM, Manipur.
The theme for this year’s National Girl Child Day-2025 is “Empowering Girls for a Bright Future” which emphasizes the need to provide girls with equal opportunities to lead and shape their future while recognizing their vital role in the society.
The observance was marked with the slogan ‘Every girl is a beacon of hope, intelligence and strength followed by a pledge to nurture, protect and empower the girls around us, ensuring that they blossom into empowered women’.
Speaking as the Chief Guest of the function, Dr. Chambo Gonmei, Director, Health Services said that the observance of National Girl Child Day is important and with the extensive and intensive awareness in the State, the gender bias has come down to certain extent but discrimination still exist in some areas. As we live in a patriarchal society, the birth of a girl child is not cherished, unlike those of the matriarchal societies of India where the role of women is important. We need to address such kind of gender bias from society, he added.
President of the function, Dr. N. Hemantakumar Singh, Director, Family Welfare Services, Government of Manipur said equal opportunity should be given to the girl child for a brighter future. When the future of the girl child is bright, the goal of such observance will be achieved, he added.
Dr. N. Hemantakumar Singh said women/girl are taking the lead in every sphere. Girls should be cherished equally as the boys and effort should be made to change the mindset of people who discriminate against girls through awareness and counselling. He also appealed to the people to refrain from exploiting girls/women through social media platforms.
Today’s function was also attended by Dr. M. Dinesh Singh, State Mission Director, NHM as Guest of honour. Dr. Sujata Huidrom, SNO, PC-PNDT, staff and officials of Health Department and nursing students were also present on the observance of National Girl Child Day among others.
An interactive session regarding the significance of Girl Child Day, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme, Gender biased Sex selection &Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique (PC-PNDT) Act was also conducted as part of the observance programme.
