A joint event was held in Longding on Monday, where cherry blossom saplings were distributed as part of a town beautification plan, and a child helpline number was unveiled. The sapling distribution was spearheaded by Longding-Pumao MLA Thangwang Wangham and Longding Deputy Commissioner Kunal Yadav, in collaboration with the Horticulture Department. The unveiling of the child helpline number was organised by the District Child Protection Task Force. Drawing parallels between the two events, the MLA highlighted how today’s actions sow the seeds of a better tomorrow, stressing the importance and future implications of the distribution of the saplings and the unveiling of the helpline number.
The MLA also apprised the public that a proposal for recognition of Longding as a water-stressed district has been raised with the government, and urged the public to adopt proper land use practices to conserve watershed areas. Advocate Wangtan Wang spoke at length about various legal provisions related to child exploitation, including child labour, child trafficking, and child sexual abuse. He informed the gathering about the differences between an ‘FIR’ and a ‘complaint’, and the forms of conduct that legally fall within the ambit of ‘sexual harassment’.
The roles and responsibilities of the Child Welfare Committee under the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 were also discussed. Longding SP Dekio Gumja assured the community of confidentiality of the victim’s identity in all such cases, and urged the community to gather contact details of those working outside the district in vulnerable conditions. The helpline number is available 24x7, and allows anyone aware of a situation to raise a complaint while maintaining their anonymity.
The DC also apprised the public of potential rewards for genuine complaints leading to successful action, and warned against frivolous and false complaints made with malicious intent. The event saw the participation of heads of various departments, armed forces, and people from various walks of life. Horticulture Development Officer Jaman Rangkham gave technical guidance to the public on the dos and don’ts of nurturing the plants.
The MLA urged the gathering to nurture the saplings and ensure their successful growth, and the DC appealed to every person to take ownership and patiently nurture the plants’ growth with utmost care.
