Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 19:
A two-member team of the National Commission for Women (NCW) led by its chairperson Dr Poornima Advani arrived here today to discuss various women issues including the death of Thangjam Manorama in the custody of security personnel.
The other member of the team is Nafisa Hussain.
Talking to media persons soon after their arrival at Tulihal Airport, the NCW members said the Commission has taken a serious view of the killing of Manorama in the custody of 17th Assam Rifles and will be taking a decision in this connection very soon.
When asked whether they would be visiting the family members of Manorama, the NCW members replied that they would like to meet the representatives of various women�s organizations in the State first and get their opinion on the issue before paying a visit and beginning a formal investigation into the case.
Dr Poornima further said that the Commission would welcome and encourage women representatives to air their grievances before them.
For this the Commission would always keep its doors wide open, she added.
Informing that the NCW members are always on the move to collect reports related to crimes committed against women in parts of the country, Dr Poornima informed that their visit to the State is the 19th stop over.
The visiting NCW team would remain in the State for next three days during which all the information related to women issues of the State like education, health, crime as well as the Manorama case would be compiled in the form of a report to be submitted to the Commission, Dr Poornima told the media persons.
Later during the day, the NCW team met the representatives of All Manipur Women Social Reformation and Development Samaj at its office and discussed a wide-ranging issues confronting by the womenfolk in the State.
During the meeting, the women representatives urged the visiting NCW members for setting up a State Women Commission.
The women representatives also presented the facts related to arrest and subsequently brutal killing of Thangjam Manorama in the custody of by 17 Assam Rifles.
The NCW members assured of taking up positive action to redress the grievances of the womenfolk of Manipur.
The NCW team also visited the historic Khwairamband Bazar at the heart of the capital city to understand the role of the womenfolk in the socio-economic life of the people.
It may be noted here that NCW chairperson Dr Poornima would be giving the inaugural address of the consultative meeting on �Situational analysis of women in Manipur� scheduled to be held at State Guest House here tomorrow.