Press Release
Press Release From Women, Child, Senior Citizen and Divyangjan Welfare Department, Namchi
Information & Public Relations Department
Namchi, 29 November: Women, Child, Senior Citizen and Divyangjan Welfare Department, Namchi District, organised orientation and sensitisation program at 12-Namphing GPK as part of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative.”
The program was graced by Honorable Panchayat President of 12- Namphing GPU Mr. Arpan Subba, CDPO Namchi Mr. Laxman Tamang, AD Nutrition Cum DNO BBBP Ms. Sophia Lepcha, Legal Officer Ms. Aeromeena Lepcha, Programmer Mr. Anmol Rai IT Department, Mrs. Heema Devi Sharma from HUB for the Empowerment of Women, AWW's, AWH's, OFOJ staff, GPK staff, and staff of HUB, students of Namphing Secondary School.
Hon’ble Panchayat President of 12-Namphing GPU, in his address, shared that he had previously worked with an NGO in the field of drug abuse prevention and has been associated with awareness programmes for a long time.
He emphasised that awareness can and should be conducted anytime and anywhere, including through phone calls and digital platforms, as people are easily connected through social media.
He expressed his gratitude to all AWWs and AWHs for their consistent presence and for bringing various awareness programmes to the GPK. He also announced that a Bal Sabha will be organised once the construction of the GPK is completed, and it will include participation from all schools under the GPU.
The President further informed that the GPK is in the process of setting up an E-Library, which will help students and adolescents access educational support and stay connected with the GPK. He thanked the Department for bringing the programme to the GPK, stating that it has served as a bridge between the community and the institution.
Mr. Tamang highlighted that the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was launched in 2015 by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi in response to the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR). The initiative began in 100 districts across India, with Panipat, Haryana, being one of the first. In Sikkim, it was introduced in Mangan District.
He explained that the declining CSR was primarily due to female foeticide. He stressed that the girl child must be given equal opportunities in education and nutrition. Earlier, many girls dropped out of school due to the physical changes they experienced during adolescence, but today, adequate facilities have been made available to ensure they can continue their education without interruption.
He also emphasised the importance of a balanced diet for both boys and girls, noting that additional care should be taken regarding the nutrition of the girl child. He encouraged parents to remain attentive to their children’s diet and overall wellbeing.
Ms. Aeromeena Lepcha Legal Officer presented an overview of the POCSO Act, which was enacted in 2012 to protect children below the age of 18 from sexual offences.
She outlined the categories of offences covered under POCSO:
1.Penetrative Sexual Assault
2.Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault
3.Sexual Assault
4.Sexual Harassment
5.Use of Children for Pornography
She informed participants that immediate arrest is mandated once such offences are reported. She also addressed legal consequences for:Non-reporting: 6 months’ imprisonment. When False complaints is made Adult is given 6 months’ imprisonment whereas Child is 1 year imprisonment and fine.
She encouraged the community to report offences without fear, noting that calls to the 1098 Childline can be made anonymously, and only the location details are required.
Mr. Anmol Rai Programmer from IT Department began by highlighting that the Internet has become an inseparable part of daily life, used from morning until bedtime. He stated that while children today are technologically advanced, parents must remain aware and mindful of their children’s online activities.
He cautioned against oversharing personal information on social media, especially with people not known personally. He also advised parents not to upload photos and videos of their children publicly, as such content can be misused globally.He discussed various online threats and scams, including:Fake accounts scams, Phishing, Online investment scams, Fake video calls,Online gaming-related risks, Casino/gambling traps, Deepfakes,Fake job offers etc.
He explained that these scams can lead to emotional distress and even family disruption. He offered key safety tips such as avoiding oversharing, keeping accounts private, using strong passwords, and avoiding public Wi-Fi.
Mr. Rai also shared a personal experience of almost falling victim to a scam, but avoided it due to prior awareness. He added that bank-related KYC calls asking for personal details are often fraudulent and should be immediately disconnected and blocked.
He concluded by providing key reporting channels for cybercrimes: Sikkim Cyber Cell WhatsApp Number: 8695622134Cyber Cell Helpline (24×7): 1930And Sikkim Cybercrime Reporting Portal: www.cybercrime.gov.in.
The programme was found to be highly informative and helped enhance awareness among the AWWs, AWHs, GPK staff, and all others present at the session.
The program was graced by Honorable Panchayat President of 12- Namphing GPU Mr. Arpan Subba, CDPO Namchi Mr. Laxman Tamang, AD Nutrition Cum DNO BBBP Ms. Sophia Lepcha, Legal Officer Ms. Aeromeena Lepcha, Programmer Mr. Anmol Rai IT Department, Mrs. Heema Devi Sharma from HUB for the Empowerment of Women, AWW's, AWH's, OFOJ staff, GPK staff, and staff of HUB, students of Namphing Secondary School.
Hon’ble Panchayat President of 12-Namphing GPU, in his address, shared that he had previously worked with an NGO in the field of drug abuse prevention and has been associated with awareness programmes for a long time.
He emphasised that awareness can and should be conducted anytime and anywhere, including through phone calls and digital platforms, as people are easily connected through social media.
He expressed his gratitude to all AWWs and AWHs for their consistent presence and for bringing various awareness programmes to the GPK. He also announced that a Bal Sabha will be organised once the construction of the GPK is completed, and it will include participation from all schools under the GPU.
The President further informed that the GPK is in the process of setting up an E-Library, which will help students and adolescents access educational support and stay connected with the GPK. He thanked the Department for bringing the programme to the GPK, stating that it has served as a bridge between the community and the institution.
Mr. Tamang highlighted that the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was launched in 2015 by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi in response to the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR). The initiative began in 100 districts across India, with Panipat, Haryana, being one of the first. In Sikkim, it was introduced in Mangan District.
He explained that the declining CSR was primarily due to female foeticide. He stressed that the girl child must be given equal opportunities in education and nutrition. Earlier, many girls dropped out of school due to the physical changes they experienced during adolescence, but today, adequate facilities have been made available to ensure they can continue their education without interruption.
He also emphasised the importance of a balanced diet for both boys and girls, noting that additional care should be taken regarding the nutrition of the girl child. He encouraged parents to remain attentive to their children’s diet and overall wellbeing.
Ms. Aeromeena Lepcha Legal Officer presented an overview of the POCSO Act, which was enacted in 2012 to protect children below the age of 18 from sexual offences.
She outlined the categories of offences covered under POCSO:
1.Penetrative Sexual Assault
2.Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault
3.Sexual Assault
4.Sexual Harassment
5.Use of Children for Pornography
She informed participants that immediate arrest is mandated once such offences are reported. She also addressed legal consequences for:Non-reporting: 6 months’ imprisonment. When False complaints is made Adult is given 6 months’ imprisonment whereas Child is 1 year imprisonment and fine.
She encouraged the community to report offences without fear, noting that calls to the 1098 Childline can be made anonymously, and only the location details are required.
Mr. Anmol Rai Programmer from IT Department began by highlighting that the Internet has become an inseparable part of daily life, used from morning until bedtime. He stated that while children today are technologically advanced, parents must remain aware and mindful of their children’s online activities.
He cautioned against oversharing personal information on social media, especially with people not known personally. He also advised parents not to upload photos and videos of their children publicly, as such content can be misused globally.He discussed various online threats and scams, including:Fake accounts scams, Phishing, Online investment scams, Fake video calls,Online gaming-related risks, Casino/gambling traps, Deepfakes,Fake job offers etc.
He explained that these scams can lead to emotional distress and even family disruption. He offered key safety tips such as avoiding oversharing, keeping accounts private, using strong passwords, and avoiding public Wi-Fi.
Mr. Rai also shared a personal experience of almost falling victim to a scam, but avoided it due to prior awareness. He added that bank-related KYC calls asking for personal details are often fraudulent and should be immediately disconnected and blocked.
He concluded by providing key reporting channels for cybercrimes: Sikkim Cyber Cell WhatsApp Number: 8695622134Cyber Cell Helpline (24×7): 1930And Sikkim Cybercrime Reporting Portal: www.cybercrime.gov.in.
The programme was found to be highly informative and helped enhance awareness among the AWWs, AWHs, GPK staff, and all others present at the session.