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Kerala: Mission plans early gender sensitisation

Eight categories were identified to evolve a gender-specific methodology.

Kozhikode: The social justice department has embarked on a mission to inculcate gender sensitisation among children to nail gender discrimination in the family itself where it originates. The Nirbhaya cell of the department is preparing modules to stop sexual crimes against women and children.

“The gender imbalance starts from childhood itself and hence the sensitisation should begin early in life to make children understand it and introduce a gender justice culture. This is a prolonged process,” said Kavitha Rani Ranjith, Nirbhaya state programme officer (prevention and protection).

Eight categories were identified to evolve a gender-specific methodology to deal with gender relations, gender and law, children’s rights, parenting, counselling and guidance, mental health, media and life skill.

People are divided into eight age groups to carry out the message: 0-6, 6-10, 11-15, 16-19, 20-30, 30-40, 40-60 and above 60. “The programme aims at a comprehensive preventive strategy. It’s for creating systems in the community itself for prevention of crimes against women and children instead of selective training,” noted SJ department director T.V. Anupama. Different areas, including domestic violence, liquor and substance abuse, consumerist culture, cyber world, value, morality etc were identified to be addressed.

“Studies say that a child starts understanding the first lessons of gender at the age of 3-4. So we should catch them young by providing gender justice lessons. Though there are certain areas which still stigmatise gender, it could be introduced in family and education sectors to achieve a paradigm change,” opined Dr R.M. Amrithraj, specialist in women studies.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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