Rising violence against women alarms citizens

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 27

In the hope to get more help from the state government in protection of women in the state, a one-day consultation cum public meeting was held today at Lamyanba Shanglen.

It was organised by civil society organisations including Women Action for Development (WAD), Naga Women Union (NWU), Centre for Women Development (CWD), United NGOs Mission-Manipur among others.

Secretary of WAD, Sobita Mangsatabam giving the keynote address highlighted that there is an increase of crimes against women in the state which is really disturbing. She said that as per data collection, there are 186 cases of violence against women from January 1 to July 25 this year.

The reports itself speaks volumes of the state situation and a remedy should be brought soon to tackle violence against women, she continued.

Chinglen Maisnam, economist of MU said that the daily reports of crime against women in the newspapers are now habituated by people. Such news items do not make people curious anymore, he continued.

He also said that Manipur has a report of one crime against women in every nine days. But despite this, it also has one of the lowest submissions of charge-sheet and that means there is no conviction and many cases go unsolved.

He also mentioned one of the amazing facts of the country that while the reports of crime against women are increasing, as many as 24 members of high government officials have cases against them and still they run the government.

1. Jibanmala Devi, secretary of CWD, briefing media persons said that “we are thankful to the present state government that they have responded well to our demands and for setting up fast track court to deal cases against women and a women helpline number”.

She pointed out that holding such consultation programme may not affect immediately but “it may at least reach the ears of the MLAs and ministers of the state so that they would extend their possible help in fighting crime against women in the state”.

This is also an awareness programme plus punishment demands to the culprits plus the teaching of socialisation process to the public to live by morals and values, she added.

The meeting was also attended by Romeo Yuhlung, secretary of United Tribal Development Programme (UTDP), Okram Ranjita, secretary of Singjamei Apunba Chanura Sintha Lup, L. Pisak, director of Childline Bishnupur, Lalam Mate, president of All Tribal Women Development Organisation Chandel among others.