AT Photo
Silchar, Sept 5: In a bid to reflect on the role of media which plays an important role in disseminating information on the ill-effects of malnutrition among children and also on the ways to end violence against children, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) together with Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University (KKHSOU) organised a one-day media workshop on Impact of Malnutrition on the Children of Assam and Ending Violence Against Children for scribes in Cachar district on Sunday.
Dr Tulika Goswami Mahanta, Professor and Head of Community Medicine at Assam Medical College and Hospital delivered a presentation virtually on the Status of Nutrition programmes: Progress and challenges. Referring to the reports published by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS5- 2019-20 ) Dr Mahanta said that 28.7 per cent of children in Cachar district are stunted as compared to overall 35.3 per cent children in Assam. Dr Mahanta added that while 38.2 per cent of children are underweight in Cachar district, 2.7 children within the age bracket of 6-23 months are receiving adequate diet.
Senior journalist Mrinal Talukdar, on behalf of the UNICEF-KKHSOU Media Project said that 40 per cent of the population in Barak Valley is under 16 years of age and 33 per cent of which are stunted. Talukdar urged the scribes to focus on the issues of malnutrition and crime against children. Making a detailed legal presentation, Kishore Kumar Kalita highlighted the crime situation against the Children and how media can handle that and how with detailed reporting both the issue can be addressed and children's interest is also protected.
Dr Jayanta Kumar Sarma Head, Department of Mass Communication KKHSOU highlighted the ways; the media can play a crucial role in protecting the interest of the children as well as society. According to the organisers, under the media project of UNICEF-KKHSOU altogether six such workshops are being planned all over Assam. Four such workshops were already held at Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Bongaigaon and Goalpara districts; the next workshop is slated to be held in Hailakandi district.
