Interactive meeting at Aizawl calls for gender just society
Source: The Sangai Express

Aizawl, November 14 2016: Control Arms Foundation of India along with Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network in collaboration with Public Administration of Mizoram University conducted an interactive meeting on "Working towards ensuring Mizoram State Diversity Policy and Ensuring a Gender Just Society" on November 14 at Zarkawat, Aizawl, Mizoram.

Addressing the opening function as chief guest, PC Lalthanliana, Minister, Social Welfare Government of Mizoram, said crimes against women in Mizoram has remarkably increased.

Women are always subjected to violence but many cases goes unreported, he said.

He said every person has the right to be treated equally.

"For the well-being of the society, particularly for women folk, responsible authorities must do the best to ensure women safety and security," Lalthanliana said.

Interactive meeting at Aizawl calls for gender just society

Binalakshmi Nepram, founder, Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network, pointed out that a woman is raped every 22 minutes.

"The situation of women is deteriorating", Binalakshmi said while asserting that there is urgent need to develop a Diversity Policy in Mizoram.

Many Mizos go outside the State to pursue for studies, for jobs and to prepare for Civil Service examinations.

In the past years, many Mizos have been subjected to racial discrimination and sexual violence.

The 2010 Dhaula Kuan gang rape of a mizo girl and the killing of another Mizo girl called in Munirka, Delhi, in 2014 are some of the tragic instances of racial violence against Mizos and other North East people in the country, Binalakshmi stated.

Nearly 80 percent of the people from North Eastern States of India who are living, working, in the country's capital feels that New Delhi is the most "unsafe" place in terms of ethnic tolerance while 67 percent said they feel they victimised on racial grounds.

Also, violence against North East people in Delhi, as per data provided by Union Home Ministry, in the past three years, have gone up by 27 percent.

She said, "We must get to understand the concept of diversity collectively and we have to respect each other" .

Director of Women's Studies Centre, Mizoram University, Professor Lalneihzovi said holding such kind of meeting is really important at such juncture.

She emphasized on the need to network together with all groups and to ensure gender equality.

LR Sailo, press secretary to Chief Minister, Chief Minister's Secretariat, Aizawl, whoc attended the meeting as guest of honor said Mizoram Government has done a lot for the welfare of women but there are much more things that need to be done.

Joseph Lalchhuana, DIG, CID, Government of Mizoram, highlighted that crime against women has been on the rise with 167 cases in 2011 to 258 in 2014 and 192 cases in 2015.The cases of rape in the State is above the National rate by 5.10 percent.

A panel of guests including Dr R Lalnunmawii, Superintendent, Protective Home, Social Welfare Department, Government of Mizoram; Dr Thanpuii, ex-Director, Regional Institute of Paramedical and Nursing and president, Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl, Tuikhuatlang, Aizawl, Dr Jane R Ralte, Nodal Officer, MSTCS and president AMWF, Reverend Dr Lalchungnunga, Chairman, Mizoram Board of School Education, Aizawl, Prof T Vanlaltlani, former president, ATTWI, Liansangluri, secretary, MHT and Sr Maria Goretti Sangma, Superintendent, Peace Home, Mizoram, also attended the meeting.