Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Oct 14: The outgoing Chairperson of the Andaman and Nicobar State Social Welfare Board (SSWB) Smt Ratna Kannan highlighted achievements and initiatives during her term on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference before demitting office on Oct 18, Smt Kannan said that since assuming charge in 2009, the chief focus of the Board has been on providing efficient services for the welfare of women and children in different parts of these islands.
Besides capacity building workshops, women empowerment programmes and awareness campaigns on social evils affecting women and girl children were routinely conducted in different parts of these islands, she said.
Committed to empowerment of women and protection of their rights, the Board conducted workshops and awareness programmes on the issues at regular intervals. With constant support of the administration, the programmes were conducted Mahila Mandals.
Counselling Centres on the other hand settled several cases relating to domestic violence, rapes, marital disputes etc. Awareness on social evils like alcoholism, drug abuse was high on agenda during my tenure in the Board, she said.
Alcoholism is a growing threat to the society leading to increase in incidents of domestic violence, suicides etc and the Board will continue its efforts to curb the menace of alcoholism, she added.
A booklet highlighting the achievements of the Board during the tenure of Smt Kannan was also released during the press conference.
