IMPHAL, Dec 9 ? Violence against the weaker section of the Manipuri society is on the rise with the report of 168 crimes (against women) since the beginning of this year till date. This was stated in a seminar held as part of the international fortnight observation protesting violence against women and girls from November 25 till December 10 under the aegis of the United NGOs? Mission, Manipur at the premises of the Manipur Volunteers? Health Association, Imphal.
?There were 12 women murder cases, four attempted murders, 11 suicides, 28 assaults, 17 child abuse cases, 49 complaint cases and 23 lost cases,? RK Mema Devi, convenor, working committee of the seminar read out different cases of violence against women in Manipur.
She said killing and alleged raping of Thangjam Manorama by the indian security forces in the name of the counter-insurgency operations that caused widespread agitation in the country is one of cases challenging the women today.
Manipur University Political Science Department Prof. Ksh Bimola Devi who was the chief guest of the function said time is ripe for a cabinet decision of the UPA government at the Centre for passing of the second-longest pending Women Reservation Bill in the history of Indian Parliament.
She further said, ?Not passing the Bill despite three-fourth massive majority of Parliamentarians belonging to parties pledging support to the Bill is nothing but unholy political endorsement to deny Indian women their legitimate right for at least one-third reservation in legislature.?
Instant passing of the Bill will definitely boost public morale to take female child as a boon rather than bane at a time when natural 50-50 male-female ratio is being continuously disturbed by female feticides and even by killing new-born baby girls, she said.
Many women speakers expressed that in feudal society women were without freedom and this 21st century has made them a commodity. The value purveyed under liberalization and the market economies have led the commodification of women and new forms of gender discrimination.
They have to fight out all the feudalistic customs like dowry system, sati, child marriage, violence against women and simultaneously the fight to firmly establish themselves in the outside world, for education, for employment, for the reservation of maternity benefits, for the empowerment will have to be strengthened. They have to fight against the attempt of making women as commodity. These two fights are not separate. One is inter-linked with the other and vice versa.