Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 10:
Raising the demand for reservation of 33 percent of the seats for women in the Parliament and the State Assemblies among other various demands, the 13th State Conference of the All Manipur Nupi Marup has begun from today at Kangla Hall here.
MLA N Mangi Singh, MLA Dr H Borajao and president of All Manipur Nupi Marup Y Ibeni Devi attended the inaugural function of the conference as chief guest, guest of honour and functional president respectively.
Vice president of National Federation of Indian Women Promoti Mukherjee, secretary of Assam Mahila Sanga Asomi Gogoi and vice president of Assam Mahila Sanga Prabha Devi were also present at the occasion as special guests.
Delivering the key note address of the conference, general secretary of All Manipur Nupi Marup S Sorojini said that the Nupi Marup has been organising the conference after every three years to highlight and discuss the important issues of the State.
In all 10 demands would be put up for discussion during the conference.
These include 33 percent reservation of the seats for women in the Parliament and the State Assemblies, to stop instances of homicide taking place in the State, to uproot corruption, setting up well-equipped hospitals with facilities for maternal and child care in all the districts, ensuring availability of PDS items to the people, to curb price hike on essential commodities, to speed up the construction work of the three market sheds of Khwairamband Bazar and dedicate the same to the people at one time, resolution of the insurgency problem in Manipur through political solution, proper implementation of the NREG scheme along with ensuring 40 pc of the benefits to women and providing drinking water to all the people, Sorojini disclosed.
In her address, Promoti Mukherjee said National Federation of Indian Women is concerned about the atrocities being meted out to the people by the security forces with impunity under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.The Federation is also worried over the decision of the State Govt to provide arms to the people of Heirok and Lilong Chajing as the possibility of leading to the people to the wrong path is very high, Promoti said.
Asomi Gogoi observed that the nature of the problems being faced women in the States of the NE region where there is insurgency more or less the same.
So it is essential for the women of the region to join hands and work toward resolving the problem of insurgency.
MLA N Mangi pointed out that the Govt of India has initiated various development programmes for women.
So the women should be aware of these developmental programmes.