Eastern Nagaland Women Organisation (ENWO) president Yingphe Konyak on Saturday called for stronger protection of children’s rights, expressing concern that some children who leave home in pursuit of education are instead deprived of schooling and pushed into labour.
Addressing a sensitisation program on the theme “Protect Children and Empower Women”, Konyak said many children from Eastern Nagaland travel outside their villages with the hope of receiving an education but do not always realise that dream.
“Children have a right to live in dignity. They are not sent to become labourers,” she said, urging families, communities and civil society organisations to remain vigilant against child exploitation.
She said ignorance and negligence often leave vulnerable children at risk and questioned whether society was doing enough to support those in need.
Stressing that exploitation continues because of a lack of awareness, Konyak urged greater public discussion on issues affecting children, including education and healthcare, alongside concerns such as alcohol and drug abuse.
Turning to women’s empowerment, she said that while women in Nagaland have made progress, many continue to face unequal expectations in a patriarchal society. She noted that there remains a wide gap between the experiences of urban and rural women and observed that, in many families, daughters are more likely than sons to sacrifice their education.
The sensitisation program was organised by the ENWO Mokokchung Unit in convergence with the District Hub for Empowerment of Women (SANKALP), District Child Protection Unit and Sakhi One Stop Centre.
District Mission Coordinator, District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), Moamenla Longkumer, spoke on women-centric government schemes and programmes. Centre Administrator of Sakhi One Stop Centre, Wangshinaro Yaden, delivered a session on gender-based violence and child marriage, while District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) District Supervisor Imnatula spoke on child protection and child labour.
