Govindas calls for curbing gender-based crimes
Women Empowerment likely theme for G20 Event in state: Dingo
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 10 2022: Expressing concern that Manipur is the fifth state with highest gender-based crimes in the country, Youth Affairs and Sports minister Govindas Konthoujam has called for a concerted effort to bring down gender-based crimes and make the state, where brave freedom fighters like Rani Gaidinliu was born, a perfect example of women empowerment.

He made the remark during the closing ceremony of the fortnight activities of 16 One Stop Centres of the 16 districts organised under the theme 'United activism to end violence against women and girls', at Classic Grande, here, on Saturday.

Speaking as chief guest of the event, Govindas Konthoujam asserted that gender based violence is crimes against humanity.

It is rather shameful for Manipur to be among the top states with highest gender-based violence while the neighbouring state Nagaland has the least number of such crimes.

Manipur is known for its high status of women and a place where freedom fighters like Rani Gaidinliu was born and where the world's only, all-women market is located.

So, it is time for an introspection to understand the underlying causes of high incidence rate of gender-based crimes so that the situation could be improved by curbing such crimes, he said.

Women have been playing major role in the socio-economy of the state as women in both hills and valley are actively involved in economic activities.

It shows the importance of women in a society.

However, subjecting them to violence is becoming prevalent in the state, which is unacceptable, he said, while calling for a concerted effort to address the issue.

The minister also spoke on various schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Nari Shakti among others for women empowerment introduced by the PM Modi government and urged for taking benefits of these schemes.

He said that all the staff in One Stop Centres are activists by nature of their job and the department should appreciate their contribution in registering cases of gender-based violence and encourage them in order to reduce such crimes.

The state may have its fair share of the Nirbhaya Fund, which the department can utilise properly to curb such crimes as gender equality is a must in order to bring development in a society and it is high time the people of the state understand it, he contended.

Social Welfare minister Heikham Dingo, who attended the event as guest of honour, said that the motto of the department is service for mankind and staffers of the department need to be sincere in discharging their duties.

He expressed concern over the dark spot in the image of the state by being one of the top states with high gender-based crimes, and stressed the need for more awareness to reduce such crimes.

Despite such crimes, the state is also at the forefront of women empowerment and Khwairamband Ima Keithel is the prime example of this fact.

The state would be hosting G20 events on February 16 and 17 next year, for which the government is considering to adopt women empowerment as the theme.

During the event, the government will showcase the products produced by the women workforce of the state and promote the Ima Keithel apart from the tourism potential of the state to the global delegates, he said and urged for participation from the people of the state in events organised in relation with the G20 Summit.

Social Welfare joint director Bantee Singh Konthoujam presided over the function which was also attended by Manipur State Commission for Women chairperson Ulka Salam as guest of honour.

Poster campaign, signature campaigns against workplace harassment against women and rallies were the main highlights of the 16-day activism campaign held across the state.

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