IMPHAL, September 7: A two-day national seminar on “Gender & Racial Discrimination: the paradigm of women’s vulnerability” was held today at S Kula Women’s College, Nambol organized by Human Rights Studies Centre in collaboration with Women’s Study Centre of S Kula Women’s College and Human Right Alert, Kwakeithel.
S Kula Women’s College, Kongkhampat, Nambol “Food Testing Laboratory” assisted by Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India was also inaugurated today by Education Minister Okendro Singh.
The inauguration function cum seminar was attended by Moirangthem Okendro Singh, Minister of Education, Nameirakpam Loken Singh, former Minister, Dr V Alexander Pao, MLA of Karong A/C, Prof Ajanta Borgohan Rajkonwar, NE sub-regional co-ordinator, capacity building manager in higher education, Department of Commerce, Dibrugarh University and Prof Amar Yumnam, Dean, School of Social Science, Manipur University, as chief guest, president and guests of honour.
Speaking at the function, Education Minister M Okendro highlighted the importance of a food testing laboratory in this present time where chemicals are added while processing food items which could be hazardous to health and with the increasing usages of fertilizer to grow crops.
He said that opening food testing laboratory will enable testing the standard of food items, health hazardous chemical contain in the food items etc. He also expressed the need to bring awareness among the society on health hazardous chemical contained food items.
He further said that the government is planning to set-up food testing laboratory at various locations in the state.
Coming on the theme of the seminar, the Minister said that even though there are various laws to protect women and children, it still fails to completely check violence against women and children so we need to put more effort to protect women and children despite the laws. It is time to create a platform to check violence against women and children in the country and especially in northeast state.
He further highlighted the plans of the government to improve the education sector. He said that the state government is working on setting up of one Women College in every district of the state and also has provisions to improve the colleges in the state so that our students do not have to leave state for further studies. He also said that the government will check mushrooming of colleges in the state that whether it is legitimate or not.
He further said that he acknowledges the insufficiencies faced by the colleges in the state and assures that the government is working on it.
He continued that the education sector in the state has been witnessing some improvement as the number of students leaving the state for further studies has been decreasing. The government is working on facilitating the students so that they do not have to leave the state for further studies.
The state government will urge centre government to convert DM College into a Deem University as the Manipur University intake capacity cannot reach the needed amount, he said.
The minister also expressed his disappointment at the building of infrastructure without proper planning at some colleges including DM College.