STAKEHOLDER’S CONSULTATION ON GENDER BASED VIOLENCE ORGANISED AT NISCHINTAKOILI BY RDIO

Nischintakoili(24/05/2023): Gender-based violence in Odisha is a major concern despite several measures taken to strengthen the safety of women and girls.

The crime rate per 1 lakh of the women population in the state rose to 137.8 in comparison to 112.9 in 2020, the third highest in the country after Assam and Delhi.

As many as 31,352 cases of crime against women were registered in the state in 2021 under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), special and local laws.

To prevent gender based violence and to create awareness community Radio Station - Radio Sampark 89.6 MHz and People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC) with support of SMART organised a stakeholder’s workshop on gender based violence at Panchayat Samiti Conference Hall, Nischintakoili Block.

Dr.Minakshi Panda, Chairman PECUC, chaired the programme.

Ranjan Kumar Mohanty, Seretary PECUC & Head Radio Sampark gave the welcome address and shared the purpose of this workshop.

He also spoke about the works of radio sampark and also about the People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC).

He further stated that Radio Sampark 89.6 is implementing a programme gender based violence and through this initiative many informative programmes are getting broadcasted through Radio Sampark 89.6 and simultaneously women group members are organising various awareness programme in the villages.

Anuradha Mohanty, Executive Director of PECUC gave a brief note about the Gender based violence programme. Joining this workshop as guest speaker Dibyajyoti Smrutiranjan Deo, BDO, Nischintakoili appreciated the efforts of PECUC & Radio Sampark and said gender based violence can be prevented only when we stop differentiating between our son and daughter.

Ashoka Kumar Ojha, Panchayat Samiti Vice chairman said to prevent gender based violence each and every person of the society along with panchayat functionaries and all stakeholders should carried on their duty properly.

Swarnamayee Das, Protection Officer, for DV ACT, Cuttack, said women can take the help of DV Act.

They don’t need to leave their house rather they should seek the help of protection officer.

Chinmayee Sahoo, Inspector In Charge, Nischintakoili said about the different protection measures such as to keep all the emergency helpline number, to seek help from nearest police station, service providers, and panchayat office in case of emergency.

Among others Soumya Sucharita Das, Sakhi One Stop Centre, Cuttack, Dr.Japani Mohapatra, Block PHC, Sujata Mahanandia, Block Programme Coordinator, Ramanath Sahoo, Former Principal of Subhadra Mohatad college, Asureswar, Ratna Dash, Treasurer, PECUC & Fakir Charan Nayak, Retired educationalist spoke about the types of gender based violence, causes and different measures and steps to be taken to prevent it.

Economically empowering of women along with making their position stable in the society, awareness and proper implementation of laws and legislature can help in preventing gender based violence and for this purpose cooperation and coordination at all level is necessary.

More than 100 participants including Sarpanch, Ward Members, Members of Panchayat Samiti, AWW, ASHA workers, Women SHG leaders, women group members, representative from government line department joined this workshop.

Vote of thanks was given by Debiprita Mohapatra of Radio Sampark.

Gayatri Tripathy of Radio Sampark moderated the programme.

Bhabanishankar Patra, Pritam Priiyabarta Bhuyan of Radio Sampark facilitated the programme.