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Sensitization Campaign at Nagaon
  • Six numbers of sensitization campaigns are planned in a year.
  • Aashwas has identified a cluster of seven villages in each of six districts where there is a history of ethnic or terrorist violence.
  • Seven such campaigns were already conducted in a groups of villages (1) Rangia under Kamrup District, (2) Majuli sub-divisions under Jorhat district (3) Namrup under Dibrugarh District (4) Rupshi under Dhubri District (5) Hahchara under Sivasagar District & (6) Singiaputani under Nagaon District. (7) Serfanguri under Kokrajhar District
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    A REPORT:- 6th Sensitization Campaign at NAGAON From 1st February to 5th February/2003
  • The 6th Sensitization Campaign of Project Aashwas was held in a cluster of seven villages under Nagaon Sub-Division of Nagaon District from 1st February to 5th February, 2003.
    The Campaign incorporated the following villages.
    1) Katonigaon, 2) Singia Putani, 3) Maj Putani, 4) Gayangaon,
    5) Pathari, 6) Bihorigaon, 7) Sutargaon.
    		•
  • The villages mentioned above have been traditionally regarded to be strong holds of ULFA militants. The people in all these villages have been living a life of terror. The children are quite traumatized. Distrust fear inter community tension, movement of extremists and action of the state have cause a serious breach in social life in general causing irreparable damage for the village children mentally, educationally and socially. Education, cultural and sports activities are found missing amongst the young ones.
  • The campaign has started on 1st February, 2003 at Singia Putani High School field. At about 0930 hrs the Aashwas flag was hoisted by Shri Jay Nath Hazarika, freedom fighter of Putoni Gomuthagaon with a march- past by N.C.C Groups and local school children.
  • After flag hoisting, the campaign was formally inaugurated by Sri Prateek Hajela IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Nagaon. After that a briefing session was conducted by Sri Pallav Bhattacharjee IPS, Deputy Inspector General of Police,(CWR), Sri Debajit Hazarika, APS Asstt. Nodal officer, Project Aashwas and Sri Lungriading ,IPS, Superintendent of Police, Nagaon with the important persons of 7(seven) villages and a group of 54 boys. In the briefing session the volunteers were given white T-shirts, briefed and despatched to each household of the 7 villages with a questionnaire. The questionnaire was on health, access to medical facility for children, concern for children etc.
  • The photo galleries of Project Aashwas was inaugurated by Sri Lungriading IPS, Superintendent of Police, Nagaon where a huge number of people gathered to see the photo exhibition of the project Aashwas.
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  • In the afternoon session there was a public meeting at Singia Putani High School field where thousand of people had gathered.
  • At the beginning of the meeting Sri Debajit Hazarika APS, Asstt Nodal Officer, Project Aashwas had delivered lecture on aim and role of the project Aashwas. Shri Pallav Bhattacharjee, IPS Deputy Inspector General of Police (Central Western Range) Assam , Sri Prateek Hajela, IAS Deputy Commissioner ,Nagaon, Shri Bhaba Sarma, retired vice Principal ADP college Nagaon, Mr Khagen Bhagabati, retired teacher ,Borhampur Higher Secondary School, Nagaon and other dignitaries had attended the meeting and delivered lectures on child issues.
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  • The 2nd day of the campaign was the day of medical campaign. The medical camp was inaugurated by the Commandant, 51 Field Regiment ,Mankhuli, Nagaon. In the campaign one workshop on health awareness was organized at Singia Putani High School field. In the health awareness workshop Dr. Birinchi Kumar Borah & Dr. Biva Devi had delivered lectures on health awareness and interacted with women of all the seven villages on issue like mothers and child care , health and hygiene . Street plays on issues on health and hygiene and polio were also performed.
  • There was also a health cheek-up camp besides the venue , which was organized by the District police.
  • On the same day a joint session with the 36 nos of victim families of Nagaon District was held at Singia putani High School premises. Shri Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta ,IPS Deputy Inspector General of Police (Administration) and Nodal officer project Aashwas, Dr. Jayanta Das noted Psychiatric, Mrs Anuradha Sarma Pujari ,Editor Sadin, Sri Lungiading ,IPS Superintendent of Police, Nagaon had interacted with the victim families.
  • The session has been a great learning experience for all who attended. The victim families narrated the ghastly incidents and the subsequent trauma faced by the children.
  • The psychiatrist examined the cases and offered to render free psychiatric treatment /counselling to most of the children of such families and arrangement was made accordingly.
  • The victim families was also briefed by the Nodal officer to avail the scheme given by the National Foundation for Communal Harmony, New Delhi for Educational rehabilitation of the children of victim families.
    • Mr. Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta,IPS Deputy Inspector General of Police (Administration ) and Nodal officer, Project Aashwas, Mr. Uday Sahay, IPS, D.D.G, Prasar Bharati, New Delhi, Dr. Jayanta Das, Psychiatric and Mrs Anuradha Sarma Pujari Editor, Sadin had also delivered lectures on child and mother care. They also appealed to the villagers not to do anything that can hamper peace and the future of the children. :
  • · In the 3rd day of the campaign in morning session a children sports and games for all the 7(seven) villages were arranged at the Singia putani High School's field. The children took part in the following events.

    • 1) 100 meters race for boys junior & senior and girls junior & senior.
    2) Long jump for boys junior & senior and girls junior & senior.
    3) High jump for boys junior & senior and girls junior & senior.
    4) Volley Ball for boys.
    5) Kabadi for boy's junior & senior.
    6) Quiz competition.
    7) Extempore speech competition
    On the same day afternoon Dr. Nagen Saikia, Ex President , Asom Sahitya Sabha, Sri Sankar Barua , IPS Addl. Director General of Police (Administration), Sri Indreswar Goswami, President Zila Sahitya Sabha, Sri Sahaja Nanda Ojha, retired principal ADP College, Nagaon Sri Babulal Paul, Principal Nagaon college, Sri Pradyut Borah, President Bar Association Nagaon and other dignitaries had delivered lectures on peace and child issues and appealed to the villagers to treat their children as the central issue in their lines. They also appealed the audience not to do anything that can hamper the peace process.

  • Smti Toiobunnessa, famous athlete of Assam of International standing had also attended in the campaign and delivered lecture on sports activities as a positive stroke for children of villages.
  • The 4th day of the campaign was the day of Educational Assessment of the 7 villages. A team of eminent educationist comprising of Sri Ohiduz Zaman, Lecturer, ADP, College, Nagaon, Md Abdul Karim, Lecturer, ADP College, Nagaon, Md Abul Kalam, of Bahumukhi Krishi Aru Samaz Kalyan Samity, Ngaon, Md Zakir Hussain Bahumukhi Krishi Aru Samaz Kalyan Samity, Ngaon, Dr. Surajit Kumar Bhagabati Lecturer Nagaon College, Sri Kati Ram Boarh Ex- Head teacher Nonoi LP School and Shri Parthajit Baruah , Ankur Society, Nagaon had attended all the schools of 7 villages during previous one week and noted down their observations in a set of questionnaires provided to them. Their observations were primarily on the following .
  • i. School discipline.
    ii. Teacher's commitment.
    iii. Commitment of the student.
    iv. Dropout rates.
    v. Building and infrastructure.
    		•
  • On the same day in the morning session a drawing and debating competition were arranged amongst the school children. In the afternoon session Sri Mohim Borah .Ex President Asom Sahitya Sabha, noted cinema artists Mr. Pranjal saikia , Mr.Jayanta Bhagabati , Sri Premeshwar Das DEEO, Nagaon , Sri Pradip Saikia, retired Principal, Nagaon College and others dignitaries had attended the campaign where they delivered lectures on education of the child and emotionally appealed to the gathering to embark on a new path of non violence and work culture. The dignitaries also interacted with the schoolteachers and parents and correct methods of imparting education to the children for their moral, physical and mental upliftment.
  • The last day was the day of peace campaign. More than 300 youths of 7 villages took out a procession in bicycle covering of all the 7 villages calling upon people to usher in peace and denounce violence. The procession was accompanied by Sri Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, IPS Deputy Inspector General of police (Administration) and Nodal officer, Project Aashwas, Sri Lungriding , IPS Superintendent of Police, Nagaon , Sri Deepak Kumar , IPS Commandant 9th Assam Police Battalion , Barhampur, Nagaon, Sri Dilip Das noted artist had also attended in the procession. The NGO namely "Ittehad" , Nagaon had performed street play where huge number of public gathered and emotionally appealed to the gathering to embark a new path of non violence. At the end of the procession all the people gathered in the Singia Putani high school field and formed a human chain and pledged to live in an atmosphere of peace and not to do anything that can hamper the peace process. Noted cinema artists Sri Nipon Goswami, Smti Chetana Das and Sri Dilip Das had also attended and appealed to the gathering to embark a new path of non-violence. Collective vow to treat the child as the central theme of each family was taken.
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    On the same day afternoon people of all the villages gathered in the closing function where a stock of all the days of campaign were evaluated. Sri Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta , IPS Deputy Inspector General of Police (Administration) and Nodal officer Project Aashwas, noted cinema artists Sri Nipon Goswami, Smti Chetana Das spoke eloquently in the function on need for peace. Noted singer Sri Dilip Das had also sang song of hope and appealed to the gathering through his patriotic songs. Sri Lungriading IPS , Superintendent of police , Nagaon thanked all the Districts administration and NGOs for their whole hearted support , which has helped " Aashwas" to make the campaign a success. The dignitaries also distributed prizes and certificates to the winners team of sports and Gams, Drawing, Extempore, Quiz and Debating competition.

    		 As it is observed, the sensitization campaign of project Aashwas was one of the most welcome breather of fresh air in an area that was long struggling with a sense of insecurity, mutual suspicion and total lack of confidence in the administrative institutions. During the wrap-up session when flag of Aashwas were returned to the seven villages, amidst all the volunteers , there were tears in the eyes of the people and a resolve to work towards bringing out a positive change in the society with a better concern for the children and issues of peace in society.

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