Suggestions invited for draft gender policy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 29 2023: Social Welfare Director Ngangom Uttam has invited suggestions for improving the draft gender policy prepared by the Manipur State Commission for Women before adoption.

The Manipur State Commission for Women has prepared a draft gender policy and the commission and the department are seeking suggestions and recommendations from experts and individuals for improvement before finalising the draft, he said at a consultation programme on gender policy held at Hotel Classic, North AOC.

The one day consultation programme was organised by Women Action for Development (WAD) on the theme "Urgent need of Gender Policy in Manipur" .

While suggestions made in the consultation would be studied for inclusion in the draft policy, Ng Uttam said experts and individuals may submit their suggestions to the Women Commission or his department.

Suggestions invited for draft gender policy

The Manipur Commission for Women had prepared the draft in 2021 and it had submitted the draft to the Government for discussion by a committee formed for the purpose.

For the public to study the draft policy, it was uploaded on the commission's website seeking suggestions, he said, adding that the first round of discussion on the draft at Secretariat level has been held.

As the draft policy was prepared in 2021, Ng Uttam said a subcommittee at Director level has been formed to make some changes to reflect the current needs.

The subcommittee has held its first round of meetings; however it was not conclusive, he said, stating the department is still open to suggestions from the public.

He continued that for the draft policy to be inclusive, it should address the issue of transgenders.

The policy should touch all spheres including education, health, employment, skill development, entrepreneurship etc.

While talking about the transgenders, he said Manipur was the first and the only State in India to open a dedicated quarantine centre for transgenders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, two dedicated children homes for trans-boys and trans-girls have been opened from this year besides opening a drug de-addiction centre for trans-persons at Khurai, he said.

Further, the Social Welfare's Budget 2023-24 also has a gender responsive budget.

It was first included in the previous budget.

Manipur is the first State in North East to have such a dedicated budget.

Moreover, all the Departments have gender budget cells, Ng Uttam said.

WAD secretary Mangsatabam Sobita, who was present at the programme said the public, academicians and activists should send their suggestions and recommendations in order to make the draft policy complete and inclusive.

While women in Manipur are known for their bravery and achievements in almost every field, there are many issues and problems women are facing everyday.

There is some representation of women in policy making and administration, however, there is still a lack of policies that protect and address the issues of the women, said Sobita.

She continued that the State needs a gender policy urgently, and it is also one of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Manipur State Commission for Women Chairperson S Ulka, Manipur University Economic Department Professor Chinglen Maisnam, Principal DM College of Arts Prof Ch Sheelaramani and Manipur Mail executive Editor N Ibungochoubi, members of several NGOs, research scholars and representatives of civil bodies attended the programme.