By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: National Women Commission (NCW) member, Wansuk Syiem on Thursday observed that despite being a matrilineal society, many a time the husband leaves his wife for various reasons and the onus to take care of four to five children falls on the mother.
“The responsibility to take care of the children is not the responsibility of the wife alone and it requires the efforts and love of both the mother and the father but if the husband leaves his wife, we should know the rights that it is the father who should take care of the children,” Syiem said.
Addressing the gathering at a one-day interactive session on Women and their legal rights organised by the NCW in collaboration with the State resource centre for women, Shillong and the Social Welfare department at Yalana Hotel here on Thursday, Syiem stressed on the need to spread awareness to the women of the State in this regard, especially those residing in the rural areas.
Suggesting the introduction of a handbook in regional language as a means to spread awareness to the women folks of the State stating that it was an important aspect to counter the various evils against women. Turning to marriage, Syiem called upon the women to be careful before entering into a marriage while pointing out that there a lot of women who are suffering due to marriage with a foreigner or Non Residential Indian (NRI).
“Marrying a foreign national without checking his background is the fault of the women.”
“They come to NCW for help, but we are helpless because marriage laws differ abroad,” she said.
The NCW member also stated that the failure of the various government empowerment policies and laws on women to reach its ultimate goal lies in the law enforcers and women.
Dwelling on the reasons that has hindered the various women related policies and laws of the government in achieving its target, Syiem said, ” There are so many laws passed for the rights of women, however, the fault lies with the law enforcers and the women.”
“Law enforcers do not carry out their duty properly and women for not being aware of their legal rights”, she added.