Status of women in society : 'Made to' lag behind
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: December 15 2020 -

The stress on the words 'made to' should be noted, for the reality says that behind the 'facade' of equality women continue to be a battered lot.

The two Nupi Lans, the Meira Paibi movement the origin of Which can be traced to the Nisa Bandh days, the high pedestal on which women are placed in the public sphere all go up in smoke when viewed against the reality of where women exactly stand today in the Manipuri society.

The first step should be to do away with the veil of hypocrisy prominent in the public life of the average Manipuri and the report "Women 'made to' lag behind in all spheres" should be juxtaposed against another report on the same day under the i heading "Manipur ranks lowest with 930 in NE region" to really understand where women stand in society.

The two reports which appeared on the 12th December edition also rhymes perfectly with all the earlier comments and observations made by The Sangai Express in the last many years whenever the Nupi Lan observation day used to come.

This year too Manipur has observed yet another Nupi Lan, which spoke at length on the courage of the womenfolk in taking the British against the artificial scarcity of rice and the existence then of a trade cartel which stood to monetarily gain from the free trade regime.

The question however remains whether the annual exercise of keeping aside a day in the name of Manipuri women has made the position of women in society any better or not.

Politically, economically and socially women continue to be marginalised and even today it is thought to be not safe for women to venture out late in the night.

Rape incidents continue and it is not uncommon to hear snide remarks against women whose virtues are being questioned by the 'leikai angels'.

The report that Manipur ranks lowest in the North Eastern region with an unhealthy child sex ratio of 930 should be an eye opener to all.

Equally disturbing is to note that there has been a downward trend with the 2011 Census showing a figure of 930 girl child to one thousand male child while in 2001 the ratio was 957.

A figurative story of the warm welcome shown to the birth of a son and the lukewarm response to the birth of a daughter and this is a reality which cannot be camouflaged.

It is not uncommon to see fireworks to welcome the birth of a son while the birth of a daughter is always met with a cold reception and this should say something significant.

An unhealthy child sex ratio is also an indication of where women stand in society and the observation of Nupi Lan and acknowledging the Meira Paibi movement would be so much more meaningful if due respect is given to women within the confines of one's home.

Manipur should acknowledge the ugly reality and perhaps the first step should be to do away with all the hypocritical social posturing while condemning women to a battered lot within the four walls of a house.

As mentioned many times in this column, the first lesson should start from one's own house and the first lesson on how men should treat women should start from one's own house.

This is where equal treatment of sons and daughters becomes important.