IMPHAL, February 12: If earlier February 14 meant mushy cards and gift wrapped presents being exchanged between young people all across the world, this year there will be some serious celebrations marking the day. Starting from 1998, February 14 or V-day as it is called has become a movement calling for the safety of women from sexual violence. The recent brutal rape case of a 23 year old paramedical student and her subsequent death has indirectly brought the movement to India and Manipur, no stranger to cases of brutal crimes reported and unreported is all set to join the V day movement by hosting programs under the global phenomenon of One Billion Rising.
Various civil society organizations have come together to jointly host programs in Imphal, highlighting the need to make a call for ensuring the safety of women, to raise voices against the violence on women, to show solidarity to women who have been raped, beaten, abused and sexually violated and to usher in hope to women who stay silent after undergoing abuse on various levels.
15 major social based organizations working in the gender and human rights sector are set to mark the day by featuring musical performances, formation of human chain and a candle light memorial at Wall United Youth Club, Wangkhei Angom Leikai. The organizing body while briefing media at the office of the Women Action for Development stressed why the observation was relevant to the region and the state.
Citing the National Crime Record Bureau in 2011 which mentions that 14.7% rape cases are registered in cities while 85% rape cases are registered in rural India; and that there are more than 1 lakh rape cases pending, Mangsatabam Sobita, Secretary of WAD said, ” In Northeast India, a total of 13,308 incidence of crime against women had been reported according to the National Crime Records Bureau 2011 with 11503 cases in Assam, 269 cases in Meghalaya, 1358 cases in Tripura, 167 cases in Mizoram, 247 cases in Manipur, 38 cases in Nagaland, 171 cases in Arunachal Pradesh and 55 cases reported in Sikkim. In this scenario, it is imperative to make as much noise as possible and communicate in one voice that enough is enough.”
Another set of 8 organizations are set to observe the One Billion Rising day around Palace Compound featuring folk chants, poetry readings, music and dance.