Border fencing row highlighted at National meet
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 09 2013 :
Among other issues, the national council meeting of National Federation of indian Women held last month at Belgaum in Karnataka has reportedly adopted a resolution to intimate the Government of India for immediate stoppage to the ongoing boundary fencing work in Manipur sector of Indo-Myanmar border and demand a fresh boundary survey exercise.
The three-day session from September 27 is said to have kick-started with a rally participated by over 4000 women activists during which normal activities of Belgaum city were affected as the rallyists marched through the streets raising slogans to demand rights of the women as well as denounce violence against them.
Speaking to newspersons at Irabot Bhavan today, vice president of All Manipur Nupi Marup Maisnam Sakhi, who attended the national council meeting, said a number of women-related issues dominated the session.
As Manipur would be losing nearly 10 sq kms of land if the boundary fencing work is allowed to persist, the issue merited awareness and discussion at the national level, said Sakhi on her resolve to place the boundary fencing dispute at the Federation's national council meeting.
Along with highlighting that the fencing work is being carried out well into the territory of Manipur thus convincing the gathering to discuss the issue and subsequently adopt a resolution endorsed by the presidium members Gargi Chatterjee and Shanta Ranade for immediate intervention by the Central Government to cease the fencing work and initiate fresh survey exercise, detailed the State representative at the national level congregation.
In addition to deciding that the UNO take necessary measures for ending the ongoing conflict in Syria, Federation general secretary also furnished a detailed report about corruption cases under the UPA-II Government and upcoming activities of the Federation's affiliated units, conveyed Sakhi adding that Federation leaders strongly decried ineffectiveness of existing laws in checking crime against women and dismal rate of convicting the perpetrators.
Taking serious note of the 33 percent women's reservation Bill yet to be endorsed by the Lok Sabha inspite of the same being passed in the Rajya Sabha, the Federation session decided to stage agitation for five continuous days during the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament, said the Marup vice president.
To coincide with the Parliament protest, Nupi Marup activists will undertake similar protest in the State to highlight issues related to the boundary fencing dispute, demand scrapping of Armed Forces' Special Powers Act 1958, women's seat reservation and crime against women, Sakhi informed adding that the National Council meeting also decided to observe November 14 as Communal Harmony Day every year.