'International Day of the Girl Child' Celebrations by Tharuni on 11th October 2013

Tharuni celebrated International Day of the Girl Child at Warangal in a befitting  and unique way on 11th October 2013.The Warangal  District Collector G.Kishan launched a SMS Help Line "Tharunopayam"with the Mobile Number--9000243000, through which Tharuni helps the children in distress. 'Tharunopayam' finds immediate solution for the problems the children face.It works for the children up to 18 years of age.If they have any doubts or problems on Health, Nutrition, Child Rights, Child related Laws, they can send SMS. They get everything on such issues, clarified..Not only children themselves, but also their Kith and kin or friends can send SMS to 9000243000. A team of Experts in the fields will help the children.

We help with--;
1.The children can get their doubts clarified. Solve the problems.
2.They can stop Child Marriages.
3.Admit Child Labour in Schools.
4.Stop Child Trafficking.
5.Inform female infanticide.
6.Inform Sale of Children.
7.Protect children/young women from sexual violence.
8.Get the elder Persons punished for their Child Abuse

Thus "Tharunopayam"tries its best to solve the problems of the voiceless children, who cannot assert their rights, with just a Short Message Service ,Dr. Mamatha Raghuveer Executive Director, Tharuni Organisation stated in this context.
The District Collector also released 'Tharuni News Letter" a special issue on Child rights,POCSO Act 2013,Child abuse and Corporal punishment in Schools, and other Child related issues.
The Event was also attended by District Revenue Officer Surendra Kiran, RDOs Madhu and Madhusudhan, CWC Member Thirupathi,Child Line Nodal Coordinator, Srikanth, DPRO Venkatramana,Tharuni Coordinators Ailesh and Bhagya Laxmi and others.
This is a Special Contribution of "www.tharuni.org" for the International Day of the Girl Child Day.

Tharuni & ACTION AID INDIA --Conducting Gram Sabhas in Chityal Mandal.

Tharuni could identify 25 villages of Chityala Mandal in Warangal District, with lowest Girl child sex ratio of 558 for one thousand boys. So in order to protect the girl children, under 'Save the Girl Child ' Project,.Tharuni in collaboration with ACTION AID INDIA has undertaken 'Gram Sabhas' (Village Meetings) . The village officials, pregnant women, youth, and villagers are addressed by Tharuni Coordinators on the issues of how to protect the girl children without discrimination, by providing equal opportunities, and taking prenatal care without sex determination tests etc.
The people are also advised to take pledge to 'Save the girl child'.

P.N.D.T. Workshops in Warangal District by Tharuni in September 2013

Tharuni identified 15 Mandals ,(under the Government of India Medical and Health Project) where the girls'  Sex ratio is lower  than 900/ 1000 boys.(820 to 873) So it was planned to conduct ground level awareness workshop for each mandal, involving all local officials and non officials.
Tharuni organised the workshops in the following Mandals  in the Month of September 2013--:

1. Cheryal Mandal-----03--09-2013
2. Palakurthi Mandal--06-09-2013
3. Parvathagiri Mandal--12--09--2013
4. Nallabelli Mandal--13--09--2013
5. Thorruru Mandal--20--09--2013
    (to be held)
The work shops are being  attended by the Tahsildar, Mandal Parshad Development Officer, Circle Inspector of Police, Child Development Project Officer, Medical Officers, Private Medical Practitioners
of Diagnostic Centers, Local N.G.Os, Sarpanches, and frontline workers like, Anganvadi Workers, Asha Workers, ANMs, and Media Personnel.
Tharuni Director Dr. Mamatha Raghuveer, while presiding the Workshops enlightens the status of Girl Child,
and reasons for low sex ratio in their Mandals. She also presents in detail about the P.N.D.T. Act. The Participants in their turn explain their experiences and discuss the problems they face. All of them pledge to 'Save the Girl child', and create awareness among the public, on this issue. The Nallabelli Meet brought out the news of lack of brides leading to go to Maharashtra for alliances.

Age for Consensual Sex--Round Table Meet--by A.P.B.H.S;& Tharuni on 11-09-2013 at Hyderabad

Con-Sensual Sex includes involvement of  a man and woman , voluntarily or in voluntarily, relating themselves and participate in a  sexual activity. The right age for sexual relationship, in the present scenario is a point of discussion raised by A.P. Balala Hakkula Sangham and Tharuni Organisation, before the Public, in the Round Table Meet, organised on 11th September 2013 , at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram, Hyderabad.. The Eminent  Speakers were from different fields,like Advocates, Doctors Sexologist,Psychologist,Child Rights Activists, Journalists, Child Welfare committee Chair Persons, Members, and Social activists,who  pointed out that consensual sex with a girl below 18 years of age is a crime.

The recent Delhi High Court Judgement  in a different context, found out that consensual sex with an under 18 girl by the person , who married her  later,  would not be an offence, according to Protection of Children from Sexual Offences(POCSO) Act.. But it was pointed out in the Judgement that a great responsibility lies  on the people , including Police in spreading and creating public awareness, about the impact of girl or boy , marrying at a tender age or indulging in unsafe sexual activities. 

The recent  Criminal Law Amendment Act of 2013 , also fixed the"  Age of Consent" for any sexual activity , as 18 years, based on the definition of a child. The Speakers opined that the the health of a woman does not permit for early marriages.. So any sexual activity , irrespective of presence of consent with a woman , below the age of 18, will constitute as statutory rape. 

The Sexologist and Psychologist found that there is a difference between Sex education and sexuality education for children. Parents and Teachers should feel free to enlighten the Children on sexuality education , breaking the myths , without moral policing .They are the role models and their attitudes are the lessons to the youth. The children must be taught , what is good touch and what is bad touch , while moving with their kith and kin and friends. Nowadays, children are dumped with lot of information , which may sometimes mislead them The Media should enable the future generation to grow in a right direction, the Speakers opined. The youth can indulge in sexual relationships after getting physical as well as psychological maturity, for which the right age for a girl is 18 years and for a boy is 21 years. 

The Round Table Meet really initiated  further research and deliberations on an important social issue faced by the present and future generations for a better understanding of human relationships.

Child Welfare Committee Warangal received award-31-07-2013 among four Southern States

SATHI (Society for Assistance to Children in Difficult Situation),Bangalore/Raichur , conducted two day workshop to look into functioning of CWCs , strengthening aspect, to share best practices and experiences among the four States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Goa, at Hubli , on 30th & 31st July 2013. Seventeen CWCs presented six months review of their activities before the Judges. Among them 21   best practices adopted by CWC Warangal , presented by the Chair Person Dr. Mamatha Raghuveer, were very much appreciated and given as the best CWC among all of them. Herself and Sri Thirupathi, Member, received the Award of 15000/- Rupees, and Memento from SATHI and Jamshedji TATA Trust.
CWC Warangal could rescue 248 Child Labour, out of them 109 were given compensation of 4.24 Lakhs, in the mode of National Savings Certificates in their names. CWC also could stop 68 child marriages during that period, rescued many children, infants,taken care at Govt. Homes to be adopted legally later.The amount will be used for the children in distress.
Congratulations to the CWC Team of Members for their sincere efforts in serving the Children in need.