District-level International Girl Child Day Observed in Balasore
Balasore, Oct 11 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty): The district-level celebration of International Girl Child Day 2025 was held at the New Auditorium of the Balasore Collector’s Office.
Zilla Parishad Chairperson Narayan Pradhan attended as the Chief Guest, while Dr. Madhusmita Samantaray (Additional Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad), Basanta Kumar Nayak (District Education Officer), Pratibha Behera (District Social Security Officer), Jyotsna Mohanty (District Social Welfare Officer), Khusiram Gohar (District Child Protection Officer), Yuthika Ray (Protection Officer), Swapna Praharaj (Programme Officer), Asmita Das (Assistant Collector), and Dr. Paresh Chandra Nandi graced the occasion as Guests of Honour.
The programme began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp before Lord Jagannath by the chief and other guests. Delivering the welcome address, Jyotsna Mohanty, District Social Welfare Officer, spoke briefly about the importance, relevance, and objective of observing Girl Child Day.
Speakers highlighted that since January 24, 2008, the day was being observed nationally as National Girl Child Day, which later, from October 11, 2012, began to be celebrated globally as International Girl Child Day. They noted that a girl child holds a unique identity in society—as a wife, mother, and sister—and plays a vital role in nation-building. Stressing the need to ensure her safety, education, and health, they spoke about various social security measures implemented by the government for her empowerment and protection.
Participants included ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and adolescent girls from different blocks of Balasore district. The event was coordinated by Bamadev Panigrahi, District Project Coordinator, who also proposed the vote of thanks at the end.
