International Rights Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 10 2011: The annual observance of International Human Rights Day under the United Nations Organisation not only revives memories of their lost ones but also remind a group of widows on the bleak future due to absence of assistance from the Government.

Interacting with The Sangai Express today on the occasion of International Human Rights Day observed solemnly at its office, president of Extrajudicial Executed Victims Families' Association, Manipur president T Renu Hungyo said the Association formed on July 11, 2009 is a body of widows, whose husbands fell to bullets of security forces.

Noting that there is no end on the number of widows due to extra-judicial execution of the male-folk by the trigger-happy security forces, Renu said repeated appraisals to the Government for justice is yet to evoke a positive response.

Informing that 35 members of the Association assemble on every second Saturdays, she expressed that annual observance of International Human Rights Day is a grim reminder to the widows on their losses and how to survive.

Confiding that purpose for meeting every second Saturdays is to discuss strategies for sustaining livelihood and to continue to fight for justice, Renu said the periodical gathering was also envisioned to discourage the widows from indulging in immoral activities.

While informing that at the formative stage of the Association every member used to contribute Rs 50 each month, the president said due to financial constraint faced by some of the members the contribution has been reduced to Rs 20 only which is reserved as fund for assistance to members who are in dire need for financial support.

Compared to absence of assistance from the Government of Manipur, a theatre artiste from Kerala recently donated a sum of Rs 15,000 to the Association while Just Peace Foundation provided loan to set up self help groups amongst the widow members to generate regular income, she informed.

Further informing that the members are mostly from Imphal, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Wangjing, Chandel, Moirang Kampu, Nongpok Sekmai and Kha Sanjenbam areas, Renu Hungyo suggested that the Government covered these widows under the widows' pension scheme.

She expressed hope that through observance of the International Human Rights Day security forces would act in a more humane way to arrest the growing number of widows in Manipur.

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