A report on “Sishu Shanti Samaroh” conducted at Sivasagar  under project ‘Aashwas’

Project AASHWAS , an Assam Police Project to help the child victims of violence of Assam in collaboration with the local NGOs and Organisations of Sivasagar had organized a “Sishu Shanti Samaroh” at Sivasagar with a 3 (three) days long programme w.e.f. 29 th to 31 st December, 2006. 59 nos of child beneficiaries of the four upper Assam districts receiving educational assistance from the National Foundation for Communal Harmony through project AASHWAS, arrived Sivasagar in the afternoon of 29 th December, 2006 duly escorted by the respective District police to attend in the ‘Sishu Shanti Samaroh’. It is to be noted that an amount of Rs. 600/- per month per child is granted by the National Foundation for Communal Harmony to each child of or below 18 years of age of families belonging to below poverty lines, and in whose households there is a death caused by either terroristic , communal or ethnic violence. The child concerned continues to get the benefit till he or she attains the age of 18.

The ‘Sishu Shanti Samaroh’ was organized as per the following programme.

On 29 th December, 2006 at about 1500 hrs , the beneficiary children along with their guardians of the district of Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia were gathered in the Ashirbad Bhavan of Sivasagar. They were received by the Aashwas team and the members of local NGOs of Sivasagar. They were also given an assessment form wherein they have filled up various data about themselves. After the assessment, a stock taking session on the receipt of the assistance and its utilization thereof was conducted by Shri Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, Dy.I.G. of Police Eastern Range & Nodal Officer, Project Aashwas, with the assistance of the representatives of District administration of Jorhat, Sivasagar , Dibrugarh and Tinsukia and those of local NGOs. The guardians of the victim families were thoroughly briefed about the scheme of Project ‘Assist” of the National Foundation for Communal Harmony from whom the child beneficiaries were getting the financial assistance. Shri Chandradhar Rajbongshi, incharge of the Aashwas Cell of Assam Police has deliberated upon the methodology of receipt of the particular assistance. The child beneficiaries were also examined by a team of local doctors of Sivasagar and medicines were prescribed accordingly. After their dinner an educational film on children was also shown to the audience and child beneficiaries. The child beneficiaries and the guardians were accommodated at Ashirbad Bhavan, Sivasagar.

On 30 th December, 2006 from 09:30 am to 10:30 am noted Psychiatrist Dr. Jayanta Das had attended a counselling and motivation session at Natya Mandir, Sivasagar. Dr. Das had given a valuable lecture on child issues and interacted with the child beneficiaries and the guardians. Dr. Das primarily addressed the issues of suffering at trauma due to the killing of the near and dear ones of the children. The ‘Sishu Shanti Samaroh’ was later formally inaugurated by Dr. Kulendu Pathak, Vice Chancellor of Dibrugarh University at about 10-30 am where Mr Sankar Barua, IPS, Chairman cum Managing Director, Assam Police Housing Corporation , Dr. K. K. Dwivedi, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Sivasagar, Shri Imran Shah noted litterateur and other dignitaries had attended the Samaroh and deliberate lectures on child issues. 3 (three) children whose parents were killed in violent incidents had also given a lecture during the function. The words of children had brought tears to the eyes of the audience.

A photo gallery exhibiting the impact of violence on women and children in Assam was also displayed outside the Natya Mandir.

On the same day evening a silent procession was organised from the Sivasagar Bor-pukhuripar to the Boarding Filed. The procession was led by the team of victim children with placards in their hands. A great number of ladies, common people of Sivasagar, Village Defence Parties of all the four upper Assam Districts had earlier gathered around the historic Sivasagar Borpukhuri. The procession was quite a spectacle. Seeing the huge processionists with lighted torch in their hands and resolve in their eyes, bystanders, shopkeepers and general people standing on the road side also had joined them. Their message was “come one, come all; let us have a violence free society wherein our children can have a better future”.

At the end of the procession which culminated in a huge gathering at the Sivasagar Boarding Field, the people gathered had also taken an oath that henceforth they will not do any thing that would harm the interest of the children of Assam.

After that a cultural function was started. A team of little children sang the songs of peace and hope. The function was also attended by noted film actor and cultural activist Shri Pranjal Saikia. Shri Saikia.

Displaying a wonderful gesture to the cause of children of Assam and specifically the victim children, Zubeen Garg , the heart throb of the millions of Assam, had presented a numbers of songs in the function.

In the morning of 31 st December the children of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia were sent to Dibrugarh under police escort where the Superintendent of Police, Dibrugarh had arranged a special programme. The beneficiary children of Sivasagar and Jorhat were sent to visit the historical places such as Ronghar, Tolatol ghar etc. They were also taken to the Jaysagar Pukhuri where they celebrated the New year eve and enjoyed boating.

The children of the victim families thus mingled with each other and with other children. They shared their agony, shared their fun and went back enriched with a sense that the society cares. All joined little Ysmin to appeal that please don’t hurt any more child of Assam, the way these fifty nine were hurt. For they are our treasure , our future.

Later in the afternoon they departed to their respective houses.