Seminar on 'Status of women in decision making' held
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 26 2023:
Department of Teachers' Education, Manipur University and All India Radio, Imphal jointly organised a one-day seminar on Status of women in decision making at the Court Hall of the university on Tuesday.
The seminar was attended by MU vice chancellor Prof N Lokendra as chief guest, School of Education's professor T Inaobi Singh as president and School of Sciences dean Prof Th Purnima and registrar Prof W Chan-drababu Singh as guests of honour.
Speaking on the topic Domestic Violence and Decision Making power of married women in Manipur' as a resource person, Prof Chinglem Maisnam pointed out that as long as women do not have social, economic and political empowerment, they cannot move forward no matter how much power they are given.
While Manipur tops in involving women in decision making, the number of domestic violence cases is also high, with over 40 present of married women being victims of violence.
Thus, if the domestic violence factor is removed, women could be more involved in the decision making process, he stated.
Prof Chinglen continued that that Manipur ranks third in the country with regard to domestic violence cases, which in turn inhibits their decision making power.
As such, there is the need to launch a camp in this matter, in addition to the police department working alongside the various government departments for promoting awareness on gender equality.
Although it would be impossible to bring a solution to domestic violence on a single day, putting into effect the women reservation law and allocation of proper gender budget might do the trick.
Delivering the keynote address, MU Department of Education faculty Dr Koijam Sobita said that women are the makers of society, while quoting Napoleon's famous phrase, "Give me an educated mother, I shall promise you the birth of a civilised, educated nation".
However, the reality is a woman alone cannot form the society, she stated, adding both men and women need to cooperate with one another to bring about a well-developed society.
MU Department of Anthropology Prof MC Arun spoke on the topic of "Dimension of Women's Decision"; and Department of Political Science Prof Dr Khelena Gurumayum on "Women Reservation in the Indian Elected Bodies: A Perspective" as resource persons.