Odisha-based NGO PREM to organize workshop and consultation on “ Right to Education & Role of Civil Society

Report by Orissa Diary correspondent; Bhubaneswar: PREM (People’s Rural Education Movement) is a secular, humanitarian, non-political and non-governmental organization established in 1984, working for the development of Adivasi, Dalit,Fisherfolk and other marginalized communities of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhatishgarh states. The primary objectives of PREM’s development programmes are to spread education, improve healthcare,implement livelihood initiatives, build capacity for good governance and promote and protect the rights of children among the marginalized communities, PREM places an emphasis on innovations for meeting the needs to empower and transform the people.

To identify the potential & challenges of making Right to Education Act as reality for the children without fear, PREM-Plan,Chilika in collaboration with Plan-India is holding a workshop and consultation on “ Right to Education & Role of Civil Society” on 26th &27th ( Thursday 3.30 May P.M to Friday 4.30 P.M), 2011. at Panthnivash, Bhubneswar,.Sri Pratap Jena,Honourbale Minister, ,Mass Education ,Govt of Odisha will attend the valedictory session of the workshop and address the participants.

A major chunk of the population lives within the age group of 15-45 years. The situation of HIV/AIDS can be tracked from the figure that 8000 people die from HIV/AIDS daily. Stigma related to HIV / AIDS assumes to be the biggest challenge reversing the disease prevalent trend and the obvious need at this moment is to take up pro active action at all level to make our society free from the HIV/AIDS related stigma. The role and responsibility of the youth is believed to be relevant in addressing the issue so that this pandemic disease could be checked and a HIV free society could be created. The youth should take the vow to contribute to the disease checking process. Plan-India simultaneously holding another workshop i.e Role of civil society in the control and prevention on HIV/AIDs on 25th May ,2011& 26th (Wednesday between 10.30 A.M to Thursday 1.30 P.M.) at Panthnivash, Bhubneswar,.Sri Surjya Narayan Patra,Honourbale Minister,Revenue and Disaster Management,Govt of Odisha and Sri Prasanna Acharaya,Honourable Minister,Health,Govt of Odisha will inaugurate the workshop jointly and address the gathering.

The purpose of these discussion is borne out of a felt need to bring together the health and education community to collectively reflect on this issue with special reference to generate awareness among the people at grassroots level and ensuring social monitoring of the implementation of the Act.