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The principle of the gender equity, equality and protection of
Women's Rights have been the prime concern in the Indian
thinking right from the days of Independence. Accordingly the
Country’s concern in safeguarding the Rights and
privileges of women found its best expression in the
Constitution of India. The realization of the significance of
investing in the nation’s women has grown over the plan
periods. Women as a separate category for planning
interventions came to form upon the country’s total
development. Therefore, all efforts of the Government have
been directed towards main streaming of women into the
national development processes by raising their overall
status- social, economic, legal and political.
This led to the creation of Women & Child
Welfare Department in 1995 which has now been renamed as Women
& Child Development Division. This Division is responsible for
formulating policies and programmes, enacts/awards legislation
concerning women and children and reviews, guides and
coordinates the efforts of government and non-governmental
organizations. Various schemes and programmes are being
implemented which play the role of supplementary/
complementary to other general development efforts for women.
The subject matters being dealt with by the Women and Child
Development Division as per the Sikkim Government Allocation
of Business Rules are as under:-
1. Nutrition.
2. Integrated Child Development Service (Scheme).
3. Women's Welfare: Widows / Destitute /
4. Welfare of children in
need of care and protection.
5. Welfare of widows of
Non-Pensioner ex-servicemen.
6. Central and State schemes relating to women and children.
7.
Sikkim State Social Welfare Advisory Board.
8.
Sikkim State Commission for Women.
9.
Sikkim State Commission for Children.
10. Convention on the
Rights of the Child.
11. Monitoring and
Evaluation of the Schemes of ICDS, children
and women.
12. UNICEF assisted
projects/ Programmes.
13. Sikkim State Plan of
Action for children.
14. Administration of both
the Central and State Acts on the subject.
15. Old Age Home.
16. National Policy on
Older Persons.
17. National Policy on
Empowerment of Women 2001.
18. Bal Bhawan
19.
Public
Services- Stationary Rules of the Services with which
the Services with which the
Department is concerned.
Universal Children's Day
Children are nation’s
strength and most important asset. Children are the pride and
joy of a nation for within them they carry the seeds of future
glory. Every year since 1957,14th November is
observed as Universal Children’s Day. Historically
Children’s Day was celebrated in October 1953 under the
sponsorship of the International Union for Child Welfare at
Geneva. Later on Shri V.K.
Krishna Menon in the United Nations General Assembly mooted
the idea of a Universal Children’s Day on 6th October 1954
and it was adopted by the U N General Assembly on
14th December 1954. It was recommended that with effect from December, 1956,
Universal Children’s Day shall be instituted by all countries
to be observed as a day of world-wide fraternity and
understanding devoted to the promotion of ideals and
objectives for the welfare of children of the world and to the
strengthening and broadening of efforts in favour of and on
behalf of all the children of the world. The day coinciding
with the birth day of
India’s first Prime Minister, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, inspires
us to focus our undivided attention towards the basic needs
and rights of children so that their well being becomes our
prime concern. It inspires us to take stock of their unmet
needs and evolve
action-oriented strategies for the future so as to give the
children the best they deserve.
Every year, children’s day provides an excellent opportunity to
us to introspect ourselves about the responsibilities towards
children. It inspires the society and the Government to think
over whether they are providing proper opportunities and
appropriate environment in the society needed for over
all development
of children.
In commemoration of the day,
a theme highlighting a specific issue related to children is
selected
every year like free health check-up, baby show, painting/quiz
competition, debate, essay competition, children’s expectation
from their parents, society, teachers and government, seminar,
workshop, etc.
Children expressing their views/ expectations from their
parents / teachers and Government on the 56 mtrs long tri-color
cloth |
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Painting Competition on the occasion of the Universal
Children's Day
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Universal
Children's Day Celebration Organised by the Women & Child
Development Department |
Women's Day Celebration
Realizing the importance of contribution made in the women by
the total development and further to encourage and motivate
them, Women’s Day Celebrations are observed throughout the
country on 24 November every year and International Women’s
Day on 8th March every year. On these occasions
Seminars, workshops, etc. on different issues concerning women
are conducted drawing resource persons and experts not only
from within the state but also from outside the State
especially from North-East states and Delhi. Women from
different walks of life participate actively in the
deliberation which help the administrators and planners to
initiate measures for the development and empowerment of women
in the true sense.
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Delegate from Nagaland speaking on the occasion of the Women's
Day Celebration at Rendezvous, Gangtok |
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