Parkal: DCPU on a mission to sensitise girls

Parkal (Warangal Rural): Access to education, employment opportunities, gender-based violence, physical changes during adolescence, child marriages etc are among other plethora of issues, the girls have been facing, Warangal Rural Zilla Parishad chairperson G Jyothi listed out, emphasising the need for societal support for overcoming them.

Speaking at a meeting that focused on 'Balyaniki Bharosa' (Assurance to childhood), a programme aimed at ensuring girls enjoy the fragrance of their childhood, at the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Govindapuram village under Shayampet mandal on Thursday, she advised the girls to focus on personal hygiene to lead a healthy life.

She lauded the district child protection unit (DCPU)'s effort to sensitise the girls through short films that portray child marriages, child trafficking, child sexual abuse etc. She urged the people to utilise Childline 1098, a toll free number to help the children in distress.

DCPO G Mahender Reddy said that Rural District Collector M Haritha has been giving a special emphasis on child protection activities. "The Collector was keen to sensitise the girls especially about good touch and bad touch, child trafficking, child marriages and physical changes during adolescence," Reddy said. He said that the DCPU had so far enlightened nearly 11,000 girls by organising awareness programmes in State-run model and KGBV schools, and colleges. The DCPU has plans to organise Balyaniki Bharosa awareness programmes in the private institutions, too, Reddy said.

People if they notice violation of child rights can call to toll free number 1098-Childline. The details of those informing about the malady will be kept secret, he assured.

MPP M Tirupathi Reddy, Parkal CDPO Swarnalatha, ACDPO Bhagyalaxmi, Protection Officer Harikrishna, Taharapur MPTC Mounika, Sarpanch Swathi and Govindapuram Sarpanch Srinivas were among others present.