Discourse on tribal customary law held
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kakching, June 25 2022: Manipur State Commission for Scheduled Tribes (MSCST) and Centre for Women and Girls (CWG), Lhunnajang Village, Pallel jointly organised a consultative meeting on 'Gender based discrimination and the justice delivery system under the tribal customary law' at Thangjaopao memorial hall, Khopinom Pallel on Saturday.

The consultative meeting was attended by MSCST acting chairperson Dr Tara Manchin Hangzo, CWG secretary Hechin Haokip, Manipur State Commission for Women member T Chongsin Koireng, One Stop Centre Chandel administrator Rinchui, representative of NGOs in Tengnoupal and Chandel districts, police and women leaders among others.

Speaking at the discourse, Dr Tara Hangzo expressed that resolving cases of crime against women and children under tribal customary law is not satisfactory.

As there is dearth of session courts in several districts, poor and hapless people don't even lodge complaints when they face such violence and crime as they could not travel far.

Noting that due to logistic issues and financial constraints many victim parties remain in silence with resentment, she also pointed out that even if tribal customary laws helped in resolving some of the cases, rich and wealthy people are misusing the tribal laws.

The cases of crime against women are generally settled by imposing cow, pig along with money as fine according to tribal customary laws consequently demeaning the values of women, she explained adding that this doesn't mean that customary laws are bad and need to be abolished.

However, customary laws regarding crime against woman need to be rectified, she maintained.

Dr Tara Manchin Hangzo further said that the consultative meeting is being organised so as to make the people aware about what to do when crime against women occur and to ensure that justice is delivered to the victims.

Such consultative meetings will be continued in other tribal districts also, she informed.

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