IMPHAL, July 29: Concerned with the rapidly increasing instances of reported Crimes against Woman, hundreds of Ninghtoukhong area residents led by the All Manipur Woman’s Voluntary Association, Ningthoukhong took out a rally today.
Other than the volunteers of the association, hundreds of local meira paibis and students from three local schools- Mangolnganbi Foundation School, Pemton Devi English School and Public School Ningthoukhong also participated in the public demonstration.
A public meeting cum awareness program was also held at the Kha Khunou Makha Mandop after the public rally.
The public rally was flagged off from the Bal Vidya Mandir Ningthoukhong Project and concluded at the Kha Khunou Makha Mandop where the public meeting was held.
Rallyists held placards reading, “Save woman’s dignity”, “Don’t forget the women’s role in the Manipuri History”, “Government should help the rape victims”, “Let the Fast Track Courts perform”, “Punish immoral persons”, etc.
In the key-note address of the public meeting held after the rally, AMAWOVA general secretary, Ksh Sujata said, “According to the Home Ministry, National Crime Bureau reports that every three minutes a crime against a woman is reported in India and every nine minutes, nine women are ill-treated by their family members”.
She continued that one woman dies every 77 minutes in dowry related violence, every 26 minutes a woman is molested by man, every 35 minutes a woman is raped, and that every 43 minutes, a woman is reportedly kidnapped in the India.
All such incidents and crimes which was once unheard of in Manipur, has today become a daily incident, she said.
She elaborated that the women of the Manipuri society had suffered a lot.
People have today forgotten that woman also has a heart, wants and dreams to fulfill owing to their portrayal only as objects in today’s global market by the films, and rising incidents of sexual abuses including rape.
She said that the rapid increase in the incidents of rape, molestation and other crimes against women in the state including sexual abuse of children even below the age of 10 years which was unheard of some few years ago has been brought about by misuse of technology like the mobile phones, internet and the depiction of woman in films from outside the state and the use of intoxicants like alcohol and drugs.
In order to check the rise of all such crimes in the state, there is an urgent need to understand the discipline of the elder generation at the earliest.
Today’s public meeting was also attended by L Memchoubi, president of Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur; N Thamballeima, president Meira Paibi Apunba Lup, Bishnupur district; Y Kunjarani Devi, AMAWOVA president; L Ranjit president United Club of Bishnupur district as presidium members.
Meanwhile, taking serious note over the rising incidents of crimes and violence on women and children in the last few years, a massive protest rally was taken out today at Thoubal district participated by huge numbers of college students, women vendors along with NGOs of the district.
The rally organised by United N.G.O Mission, Toubal district Women Committee, Waikhom Mani Girls College and NSS Institute, Thoubal strarted from Thoubal Wangma Taba Parking and ended near the office gate of Deputy Commmisionner, Thoubal Athokpam and was followed by a public meeting at Khetri Hall in front of Thoubal PS.
Several placards which read such as ‘’Stop crime against women’’, Women are not toys, should kept in higher position’’, ‘’Respect women’’, Wake up 60 MLAs”, ‘’Enact law to stop crimes against women and children’’ etc were held during the rally.
The public meeting was attended by Hijam Jamuna, Councillor of Ward No 10, Thoubal Municipal Council; Sanatombi, teacher of Waikhom Mani Girls College and Dr Ksh Manglem as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.
Addressing the gathering, Kh Mangol, secretary of UNM-M, Thoubal branch stated that 27 women have died so far in different crimes in the current year while 13 women have been allegedly raped and many children of young age remaining traceless after they step out from homes and school in the state.
She further said there is a need for concerted efforts to chalk out several measures as women are being suppressed and ill-treated in the society adding that if people do not act together to curb the menace, incident of crimes and violence on women would continue.
She also expressed discontentment over the government for not coming up with policies which could thwart such incidents.
While speaking as resource person, Sobita Mangsatabam, secretary of Women Action for Development (WAD) underlined on the need for joining hands together with rights activists, CSOs along with different sections of the society to fight against the rising crimes and violences against women and children.
Mala Lisam, chairperson of C.W.C. Thoubal said she had herself been a victim of crime against women informing that women of the country have been victimised everyday at an average of 53 percent while molestation cases are recorded at 50 percent.
Saying that Thoubal district has been recorded with highest number of crimes and violence against women and children, she further noted that many developmental works have not been taken up due to the failure of the system.
