OUR CORRESPONDENT
TEZPUR: The Assam Branch Indian Tea Association (ABITA) Zone 3 in support with UNICEF has been working on capacity building and empowerment of adolescent girls in tea gardens on a range of issues.
Under this initiative in Harchurah, Phulbari, Rupajuli, Tarajulie, Tezpore and Gogra, Ghoirallie, Nahoroni, Sessa, Addabarie and Arun tea estates in Sonitpur; Bargang, Behali, Boroi, Dufflaghur, Halem, Mijicajan, Monabarie, New Gogra, Pertabghur, Brhmajan and Dekorai tea estates in Biswanath; and Corramore, Dimakusi, Nonaipara, Orengajuli, Attreekhat, Borengajuli, Budlapara, Hattigor, Lamabari, Majuli, Panery and Bhutiachang tea estates in Udalguri district in 2018, targeted the realization of rights of children, adolescents and women, to survival, development, participation and protection by reducing inequities and inequalities based on gender, region and ethnicity with strengthened delivery mechanisms in alignment with Sustainable Development Goals.
Tea garden community has been engulfed by numerous problems including health and hygiene, education, sanitation, human trafficking, child labour, child marriage, witch-hunting, and prevalence of country liquor but they are gradually becoming aware of their rights and responsibilities and ABITA's effort is truly empowering the community, particularly the adolescent girls in standing for their rights and making them responsible citizens.
Under the programme, as part of child protection agenda, adolescent boys and girls are being able to acquire the knowledge, skills and peer group support to take action to protect themselves from violence, exploitation and child marriage and to make their community safer.
Mrinmoy Baruah, secretary, ABITA Zone 3 said, "In the recent times changes in tea community, especially among the adolescent girls have been noticed in tea garden areas. Majority of the girls are willing to continue their higher studies by ignoring early marriage which is a common social norm within the tea community now."
According to official sources, weekly adolescent girls' club meeting are being conducted wherein a community safe space is created in the tea garden for sharing of inter-personnel issues among girls and group-actions are undertaken on various issues pertaining to their protection and nutrition in the communities. The weekly meetings are also a forum to build the capacities of girls on various issues, including life skill development.
Monthly meeting of Child Protection Committee (CPC) are held to report, discuss and prepare plan of action to handle any incidence of abuse, neglect or exploitation in the communities and to create awareness among the community members on child marriage, trafficking, dropout, sanitation, safe water, nutrition etc. A month-long free football and taekwondo workshops were organized for the adolescents girls in 28 gardens of Sonitpur, Udalguri and Biswanath districts with an intention to develop interest towards extracurricular and athletic habits and to sustain active interest in sports among the adolescent members.
Among other programmes, substance abuse trainings and wall painting were also done in various locations in tea gardens to disseminate information on child protection, nutrition, health and hygiene, officials sources added.
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