To highlight gender-based discrimination in Punjab, Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (PSCPCR) and Punjab State Commission for Women (PSCW) along with Save the Children, jointly held a ‘State level Consultation on Gender-based Violence’ and launched a Mobile Caravans for awareness from from CII, Chandigarh, on Tuesday.
S K Sandhu, Additional Chief Secretary of Government of Punjab flagged off six-mobile caravans having the message: ‘Identity is different, but Rights are one’ which will reach out to 550 villages of Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa and Fazilka districts of Punjab.
The innovatively designed vans will use a mix of infotainment techniques to educate the community about the sensitive issue of Gender-based Discrimination. Each van is equipped to show a feature film highlighting methods to report female feticide incidences and also has a nukkad natak team which will initiate discussions about giving equal treatment to boys and girls. Sandhu said, “The campaign initiated by Save the Children will bolster Government’s efforts on dealing with the issues of gender based discrimination. Educating and informing masses is a first step towards achieving our aim of gender equality.”
He said there was a need to get more innovative in sensitising people through different mediums and also to sensitise the legal fraternity and the law enforcing agencies. He also stressed on the fact that while government is making efforts, mindset of people needs to change to curb gender-based violence.
Michelle Bowman, Director of Programmes Operations, Save the Children said, “We are confident that the campaign will provide children and adolescents of Punjab a platform to raise their concerns and suggestions about gender equality. Reducing gender based discrimination is a key sustainable development goal for India and through our programmes we not only ensure that community is sensitized on gender-based discrimination but also initiates action towards reducing it.”