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Consultation
on Review of 14 Point Agenda of Ministry To Children, Church
of North India
A
Synod level Consultation to Review the 14 Point Agenda of the
Ministry to Children (MTC), Church of North India (CNI) was held
from 12th -14th July 2006 in CNI Bhawan, New Delhi with the
objective to review and assess the relevance of the 14 Point agenda
of the MTC in the present context. The Consultation gave room for
learning from the best practices and formulate an agenda relevant to
children and CNI’s ministry to children in fulfilling the mission
of the Church based on sound biblical and developmental principles.
During the Inaugural Programme, The Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan,
General Secretary, CNI and Secretary, MTC, CNI presented a
background of the 14 point agenda. Thereafter, Ms. Sanjana Das, Co-ordinator,
Children’s Concerns, CNI gave an introduction to the Consultation
and presented the “The journey so far” of the MTC and its
various concerns for children. The Consultation was inaugurated by
The Rt. Rev. Purely Lyngdoh, Deputy Moderator, CNI. In his Inaugural
Address, Bishop Lyngdoh gave a biblical perspective of the intrinsic
worth of children and therefore the biblical mandate for the Church
to be engaged in working on issues of children with justice at the
core. Ms. Victoria Rialp, Chief, Child Protection Section, UNICEF
India Country Office, in her Key Note Address shared the UN
perspective on Child Protection, the World fit for Children and the
role of the Church in protecting children from violence,
exploitation and denial of child rights.
The Consultation was resourced and facilitated by pastors, bishops,
practitioners and experts on the issues related to children both
within the Church and in the community at large. They were Mr.
Kailash Satyarthi, child rights activist and nominee from India for
Nobel Prize, Mr. Augustine Veliath, Communication Officer, UNICEF,
Mr. Sonykutty George, Programme Ofiicer, UNICEF, Dr. Ms. Nalini
Abraham, Rev. Dr. Paul Swarup, The Rt. Rev. Naresh Ambala, Father
Monodeep Daniel, Ms. P. Christdoss, Mr. Rig David, Ms. Kabiraj, Rev.
Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, Mr. Sudipta Singh and Ms. Sanjana Das.
The Consultation was participated by several Bishops of the Dioceses
of CNI as well different leaders, practitioners and representatives
from Religious Education Committees of the dioceses. At the end of
the Consultation the group was able to draw up a 7 point agenda for
action of the MTC and recommended for renaming of the “Ministry to
Children” to “Ministry with Children” that will symbolize as
having children as active participants in the process of CNI’s
work for, with and among children at all levels.
7 POINT AGENDA FOR ACTION OF
MINISTRY TO CHILDREN
CHURCH OF NORTH INDIA
-
Organize, strengthen and facilitate diocesan and
congregational initiatives for the development and growth of
Sunday school movement to further the vision and mission of
Church of North India.
-
Address issues of Children at risk through direct
and indirect interventions, through comprehensive, cross-sectoral
and integrated strategies and measures with active community and
congregational participation, focusing specially in the areas of
survival, development, protection and participation of children.
-
Improve access and provide relevant education,
training, recreation and a supportive environment to families
and children through programmes such as Community Study Centers;
in keeping with the child's development, sense of dignity and
self-esteem and involving communities.
- Review and reorganize community based residential
child-care programmes, promote family support mechanisms and
community based alternatives that protect the best interest of
children.
- Lobbying, advocating and networking with like
minded local, national and international organizations for the
protection of child rights.
- Create an enabling environment for children by
developing and implementing a holistic child protection policy
- Develop a child centric theology re-affirming the
intrinsic worth of every child.
Bringing Smiles Back to the Children through New School Buildings
here were sounds of laughter, sight of happy faces, smiles of joy,
as children jumped around with excitement and zeal and organized
themselves for the inauguration programme of four permanent schools
in Car Nicobar. To them it was not just an event, not just a
function, but in their own words, “We are all so happy today,
because now we have our own schools, a place of our own.”, says
Celina even as one of their teachers adds, “A proper school
building means better space for children, and also a safe place
where children spend maximum hours of their day besides their home.
We are indeed happy to get back to normal school life.”
The Church of North India as a part of its intervention in the
tsunami affected Andaman and Nicobar islands is constructing sixteen
schools in Nicobar District on behalf of the Department of
Education, Andaman and Nicobar Administration and in partnership
with the Episcopal Releif and Development, USA and the Uniting
Church in Australia. The first four schools namely Government
Primary School Kimyus, Government Primary School Kinyuka, Government
Secondary School Mus and Government Senior Secondary School Big
Lapathy were inaugurated by The Rt. Rev. P. S. P Raju, President,
Disaster Management Committee, Church of North India and Bishop of
the Diocese of Calcutta on 22nd July, 2006 in the presence of Mr.
Uddipta Ray, Secretary, Education, A & N Administration, Ms.Ankita
Mishra, Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar, Mr. Rajkumar, Director,
Education and Mr. Sudipta Singh, Secretary, Disaster Management
Committee, Church of North India, Director Programmes, CNI and
several other dignitaries and over hundreds of children and
community people.
In his Inaugural Address, The Rt. Rev. P. S. P Raju re-affirmed CNIs
commitment in investing in the development of children that has a
long term impact, specially in a post disaster situation when the
well-being and the education of children gets affected. He thanked
the Department of Education for their faith in CNI, even amidst
adverse situations though Tsunami got newer challenges, but together
it has been possible.
Mr. Uddipta Ray, while delivering his speech thanked CNI and the
community for taking up this gigantic task. He added that these four
school building are the first permanent structures for the people of
Car Nicobar. While thanking CNI for their contribution to the
community and for joining hands with the Department of Education, he
said that even though several NGOs approached to take up this task,
we invited CNI considering not only their capability, commitment and
credibility but also for the dynamic leadership and for their strong
presence and excellent relationship with the community and its
organizations. Today as we see the fruits of the work, we are happy
that our faith and trust in CNI has borne excellent results even
amidst challenges of lack of support in terms of infrastructure,
transportation, labour, etc. in these islands.
Ms. Ankita Mishra, in her address thanked CNI, for their commitment
in their work, not only in the construction of schools but in all
areas of interventions in the community specially for the cause of
children. She re-affirmed the support of the Administration to CNI
for the well-being of the community.
Mr. Raj Kumar congratulated CNI for accomplishing such a colossal
task. He added that CNI has tremendous experience in the field of
education and has made remarkable contribution in the country, the
same essence is seen even in its reconstruction process thorugh
remarkable contribution to the children in particular and the
community at large by strengthening the arms of the Department of
Education, A & N Administration with this partnership as a
beginning. He also requested the CNI authorities to strengthen the
partnership in the area of quality enhancement of education through
training of teachers and alternative education of children.
While proposing the Vote of Thanks, Mr. Sudipta Singh thanked the
Department of Education and the A & N Administration for their faith
in CNI and for their continuous support even in difficult
situations, the community and the Tribal Council for their
commitment and co-operation at all times, Episcopal Relief and
Development, USA and the Uniting Church in Australia for their
generous contribution for the cause, for their solidarity and
continuous support in terms of encouragement, patience and prayer
and for being sojourners with us in restoring lives towards normalcy
of the tsunami affected people in Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Mr. Ranjit Singh, Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Bundela,
Superintendent of Police, Mr. Thomas Philip, Secretary, Tribal
Council, Mr. Apolos Christtopher, Diocesan Secretary, Mr. Wilson
Amos, Managing Director EHL were also present prominently during the
inauguration of the schools.
Consultation on Gender Sensitive Rights Based Media Reporting :
Building Positive Partnerships
The
Church of North India in partnership with UNIFEM (United Nations
Development Fund for Women) is working in the Eastern Himalayan
Region covering the districts of Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling in West
Bengal and Kokrajhar in Assam to tackle newer emerging
vulnerabilities leading to trafficking in children and women in
Eastern Himalayan Region. While the work on the issue is going on
quite well, the challenges that come with it demand for a wider
recognition of the need to address root causes and explore
possibilities to strengthen the social structure to reduce the
vulnerabilities of women and children especially in the context of
exploitation of women and children.
Therefore, the Diocese of Eastern Himalaya, Church of North India in
partnership with UNIIFEM & USAID and in collaboration with National
Coalition of Media Persons against Gender Violence and Trafficking
organised a “Consultation on Gender Sensitive Rights Based Media
Reporting : Building Positive Partnerships” from June 12th - 14th,
2006 in Darjeeling. The Consultation brought together media persons
from the national and vernacular press, both electronic and print
media, from throughout the country as well as media persons from
West Bengal with the objective of using the platform to exchange
knowledge and tools for enabling sensitive, responsible journalism,
especially in the case of violence against women and children. Also
in attendance were representatives of NGOs, CBOs, faith-based
organisations, the academia, and the community. While the focus of
this Consultation was on Darjeeling and the Eastern Himalayan
region, the issues of concerns were not limited to one area alone,
but as prevalent throughout the country and throughout the world.
The programme began with Mr. O. T. Aden’s welcome remarks. This was
followed by an Introductory Speech by Ms. Mohuya Chowdhary, Senior
Editor NDTV and Chairperson, National Coalition of Media Persons
against Gender Violence and Human Trafficking. The Rt. Rev. Naresh
Ambala, Bishop of the Diocese of Eastern Himalaya in his Inaugural
Address reflected on the Constitutional Rights of human beings from
being protected from exploitation and the right to live a life of
dignity. He challenged the people of all faith to reflect on the
Scriptures which talk of Justice and dignity of all creation. In her
Key Note Address, Ms. Archana Tamang, Chief, Women’s Human Rights
and Human Security Unit UNIFEM, South Asia Regional Office spoke of
the role played by the Media Coalition covering the electronic,
alternative and print media through sensitive reportage of the
issues of concerns. Ms. Nandita Baruah, Regional Anti Trafficking
and Equity Advisor, U. S Agency for International Development, in
her address emphasized the need for addressing macro issues that
lead to vulnerabilities even while working on micro issues.
The Consultation began with a report sharing of CNIs
Anti-Trafficking Programme in the Diocese of Eastern Himalaya which
was presented by Ms. Sanjana Das who also facilitated sharing of
people’s experiences and struggles in the prevention of trafficking
and violence against children and women, in rescuing and in enabling
and supporting communities to address vulnerabilities that lead to
trafficking. This was presented by a cross section of
representatives of the Diocese from development practitioners to
grassroots workers to the community leaders and the survivors of
trafficking as well as the pastors from different areas of the
Diocese.
The Consultation was facilitated by Mr. Sudipta Singh, Director
Programmes Church of North India, Mr. Jaishankar Gupta, Secretary,
Press Information Bureau and Special Correspondent Hindustan, Ms.
Archana Tamang, Chief, Women’s Human Rights and Human Security Unit
UNIFEM, South Asia Regional Office and Ms. Sanjana Das,
Co-ordinator, Children’s Concerns, Church of North India.
At the Consultation‘s end, the Darjeeling Commitment was released. A
team of media persons, and development practitioners all from
different backgrounds gathered together to work on the Commitment,
bringing to fruit the personal commitment of media persons present
at the Consultation to the anti-trafficking cause and their pledge
to report form a rights-based, sensitive perspective.
Former Moderator of
CNI Passes Away
One of the stalwarts of the Church Union movement in the North
India, the Most. Rev. Ramchandra Shivappa Bhandare was called to be
with his Creator this morning at around 9.15 AM after a brief
illness due to pneumonia. The Church of North India expresses deep
shock and grief at the passing away of this great servant of God. He
was 86 year of age and has left behind two daughters, Chitra and
Kiran, and son, Samuel and six grand children. He was one of those
first Bishops who were consecrated during the inauguration of the
Church of North India in 1970 and was installed later as the Bishop
of Nagpur. He became the Moderator of the Church of North India for
the triennium-1980-83. It was during his tenure as Moderator the
present CNI Bhavan (formerly known as Wesley Lodge) was inaugurated
and dedicated on 3rd October 1982. As an inaugural message he said –
“the CNI Bhavan (Wesley Lodge) is a symbol of our unity and
co-operation”.
He was born on 1st January 1920 in a farmer’s family at a village
Malagaon in Miraj district of Maharashtra. He was ordained as Pastor
in 1952 and worked as Evangelist, Pastor and District Superintendent
in Kolhapur area and later became the Executive Secretary of the
Kolhapur Church Council. He was conferred the degree of divinity (Honoris
causa) by the Whilworth College, Washington. From 1963 till his
consecration as Bishop in the Church of North India in 1970 he held
the post of the Executive Secretary of the General Assembly of the
United Church of Northern India.
He was a man of action and never remained idle. This was evident in
the fact that even after his retirement he started an educational
society which runs today an English medium school at Ichalkaranji.
His powerful voice and understanding of the matter has challenged
many young people.
The Memorial Service was held in CNI Bhavan on 24th July 2006 at
9.00 AM where profound tributes were paid by the members of the
staff.
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