Meet notes role of women as peace promoters
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 25 2011: The need for all the women organisations of various ethnic communities in Manipur to come together as one in fighting against the ills afflicting the State today has been underscored in a day-long talk programme on 'women as promoter of peace in the present scenario of Manipur' .

Organised jointly by Kasturba-Gandhi Institute for Development, Manipur and Department of Library & Information Science, Manipur University in collaboration with Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, New Delhi, the programme held in the conference hall of Department of Library & Information Science, MU was attended vice chairperson of Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samiti Tata Gandhi Bhattacharjee, president of Kasturba Gandhi Institute for Development, Manipur Kh Momon Singh among other personalities.

Prof S Mangi Singh of Department of Political Science, MU; Head of Dept of Library & Information Science, MU Dr Th Madhuri Devi and Padmashree awardee RK Jhalajit were the main speakers of the programme.

Among the speakers, Prof Mangi observed that the Govt may not declare Manipur as a conflict State or a State in conflict situation, but all the indicators point that Manipur is a conflict State today.

In such a situation, Manipuri women have played and continue to play an important role as promoter of peace.

Apart from fight against the menace of alcoholism, Meira Paibis in Manipur have succeeded in fighting against human rights violations in the society.

During 1990s, when hundreds of villagers were burnt down and thousands of people were rendered homeless on account of ethnic clashes in the hills of Manipur, Manipur women came to the fore campaigning for restoration of peace and harmony through organising various meetings, he pointed out.

There are various women organisations of the numerous communities living in Manipur.

So, instead of having one organisation for a particular community, all the women organisations need to work together, Prof Mangi suggested.

Dr Madhuri applauded the activities of women organisations like Naga Mothers' Association and Kuki Mothers' Association which are sowing the seeds of peace among the people in the hill areas of Manipur.

She also praised Irom Chanu Sharmila and Indira Goswami for setting example as promoter of peace in the North East region.

Padmashree RK Jhalajit pointed out that unemployment is the root cause of many of the problems in the society today and vouched for promotion of Khadi and village industries like handloom to solve the problem of unemployment.

Delivered delivering the key note address, secretary of Kasturba Gandhi Institute for Development (KGID), Manipur Dr O Sareeta Devi observed that Manipur is a strife-torn State with all sort of social and geo-political contradictions.

In such a situation, carrying peace message is a very complex issue.

Nonetheless, peace volunteers of the institute have been expediting the campaign of mobilising the youths of the State and imparting the basics of becoming Shanti Sena in the same fashion of other International peace organisations, she said.

In addition, she went on to say that KGID, Manipur has been organising a series of Economic Development Programmes to impart vocation training in tailoring, embroidery, Kouna crafts, handloom & handicrafts including Kaouna crafts, computer, etc for girls from BPL families, apart from other youth programmes on capacity building and leadership.

KGID also believes in strengthening the Sishu Panchayats for empowering the children of the State to reach their voice to the highest corridor of the administration.

Because, the future lies in their hands and through them the whole world can be awaken with the Mantra of peace and Ahimsa, she said, while exhorting that it is for everybody to see that Gandhism and Gandhian means are firmly embraced by all section of the society with the slogans of peace and non-violence.

She pointed out that according to Gandhiji, the betterment of the future, the household, the work place and the society at large is with the women.

So, to make a happy and peaceful family, Manipuri women have to play an important role as mediator among the family members.

Because, the day to day activities of a family are solely depended on the women who act in the role of a mother, grandmother, mother-in-law or as a housewife or a daughter.

Comment