By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The various women’s organizations of the State on Tuesday resolved to approach the State Government to immediately appoint a new Chairperson of the Meghalaya State Women Commission (MSWC) before the announcement of the elections date.
The women’s organizations which included Synjuk ki Seng Longkmie, Seng Longkmie of various locality of Shillong, North East Network (NEN), CSWO (Agnes Kharshiing), Women Integrated Sustainable Empowerment (WISE), besides representatives of various colleges and medical practitioners, unanimously decided to pressurize the State Government to immediately appoint the Chairperson of the MSWC following the resignation of the former incumbent Roshan Warjri.
The resolution was taken in the wake of the fact that crime against women in the country and the State in particular is on the rise and there was a need to curb the menace of crime against women laying special emphasis on rape.
“We will seek an appointment with Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Wednesday and demand the appointment of a new MSWC chairperson, besides meeting the State Director General of Police later during the day,” president of the Synjuk ki Seng Longkmie, Theilin Phanbuh, told reporters after the meeting.
Further, the women’s organizations also sought to form a pro-active co-ordination committee with a purpose to create a link between the various women’s organizations working in other districts especially at the grassroots level.
“We need coordination amongst the different women organizations of the State to bring to the fore incidents of rape which many a times go unreported due to lack of procedural knowhow,” social activist Angela Rangad stated.
Stating that Shillong is the hub for voicing the concerns, Rangad said, “We can pursue for justice easily from here if proper coordination prevails among all the women organizations of the district.”
Meanwhile, Darilin Syiem of the NEN spoke at length on the need for proper sensitization and awareness among the rural lots besides teaching the Seng Longkmie of the various localities on how to deal with cases of rape and molestation which includes filing of FIR and medical examination of the victim.
Dwelling on the medical aspect which sometimes weakens the case of the rape victim and hinders the pursuit of justice due to little or no knowledge, senior Medical Health Officer of Ganesh Das Hospital, Dr J Lyngwa, said, “There are many cases which come to us which are related to rape. But due to delay in reporting, most of these cases cannot be authenticated.”
Stressing on the need to sensitize the rural lot, she said, “Sex education and awareness is a must.”