Bhubaneswar: Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), in association with UN Women on Sunday launched a campaign to stop violence against women and the girl child in Odisha named Kanya Kiran.

A number of activists and government officials took part in the launch ceremony.

"Unless the mindset of people change, we can't overcome this problem. Awareness among the masses is the need of the hour. We all should come forward and fight against such evil activities," said social activist Asit Behera. "For the past five years, during the summer break, KISS students and their parents engage themselves in awareness programmes on important social issues. This year 27,000 KISS students along with their parents and 3,000 women staff will campaign on the theme," said Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT and KISS.

"The girl child is like the rays of the sun. Just as sunrays bring happiness to all living beings on earth, the birth of a girl child brings happiness and prosperity in the society. Sunrays are the source of all living beings. Similarly, the future generation lies in the girl child. This implies that where women are respected, even gods like to reside there, and where they are disrespected, all actions remain unfruitful," said Samanta.

Every district of the state will be covered by the awareness drive.

KISS and KIIT employees will be engaged in the task. They will sensitise the children, their parents and general public about the social evils and how to combat violence against women.