Women and Child Development Ministry is organising Vatsalya Mela,2013 from14th November to 29th November at Dilli Haat, Pitampura and from 14th November to 30th November at Dilli Haat, INA. The National Resource Centre for Women, under the National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NRCW/NMEW), Ministry of Women and Child Development is organising a number of activities that create awareness on women’s issues and empower women at the Vatsalya Mela, 2013.
Some of the important events are as follows:
Nari Ki Choupal
The Nari Ki Choupal is a unique forum for women and men from all backgrounds to come together and share their stories, experiences and learning as well as receive exposure to a multiplicity of government schemes and programmes based on women’s empowerment.
This colourful yet enlightening series of events kicked off with a Special GramSabha at Dilli Haat, Pitampura on 14th of November, organised in collaboration with Action Aid India. The Sabha’s discussion was a heart-warming sharing of experiences by Sarpanchs from across seven states on declining child sex ratio, who deal with the problem at the grassroots level and show exemplary conviction in their belief of the value of the girl child.
The subsequent days of Vatsalya Mela have seen a slew of cultural programmes with social messages at the Nari Ki Choupal, with nukkad natak (street plays), puppet shows, folk dances, movie screenings, poster making competitions, fashion shows and lively interactive sessions organised in collaboration with leading non-government organisations. These programmes were based on the themes ofVatsalya Mela this year – Ahimsa Messenger – a programme of Ministry for Women and Child Development to empower women against violence and declining child sex ratio.
Some of the highlights that received an enthusiastic response at the Nari KiChoupal included the screening of a film titled ‘Nanakpura Kuch Nahi Bhoolta’ on the theme of Domestic Violence, a fashion show featuring clothes made and worn by girls from disadvantaged backgrounds and a musical night on sanitation put up in collaboration with Sulabh International.
The upcoming events of Nari Ki Choupal include a unique rock concert on women’s issues, organised in collaboration with Delhi School of Social Work, DU on 23rd November at Dilli Haat, INA and an interactive theatre programme on land rights of women in collaboration with Women Power Connect on 24thNovember,2013 at Dilli Haat, Pitampura.
Free Cancer Screening for Women
Cervical cancer is the most common female cancer in India and accounts for approximately 27% deaths worldwide. The illness is treatable if detected at an early stage, for which facilities are not easily available for most women in India.
NRCW/NMEW in collaboration with the Indian Cancer Society (I Can) has organized free cancer screening at Dilli Haat, Pitampura on 20th, 22nd and 26thNovember, 2013 from 2 to 4p.m. as a special initiative of VatsalyaMela 2013.
A fully equipped mobile van of Indian Cancer Society including gynaecologists, ENT specialists and surgeons, who shall conduct haemogram, chest X-ray, PAP smear for women and clinical breast examination, general physical check up, ENT check up and full body examination is being stationed at the entrance of DilliHaat,Pitampura during the timings mentioned.
The first screening camp received an overwhelming response and a number of women from economically weaker sections benefitted from the facility.
Meghalaya Women Farmer’s Festival
To promote marketing of agricultural and horticultural produce of women farmers from Meghalaya, NRCW/NMEW is organizing the Meghalaya Women Farmers Festival in collaboration with the State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW) Social Welfare Department, Govt. of Meghalaya and National Skills Foundation of India (NSFI) at Dilli Haat, INA from 21st to 26th November, 2013.
The objectives of this Festival are to provide a market and branding platform to women farmers with small production capacity through makeshifts stalls in an open market atmosphere and provide consumers of urban India a glimpse of the range of organic and fresh produce of women farmers. This event can lead to establishment of strong market linkages for the produce of women farmers and provide a platform for exploring the market of organic products.
