Crime against women
SHILLONG: On the eve of Women’s Day on Tuesday, only three out of the total 60 legislators took part in the discussion on crime against women and minors in the Assembly.
Besides UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh, who moved a special motion on the rising crime against women and children, others who took part in the debate were James Sangma of NPP and Ardent Basaiawmoit of HSPDP.
Though the Assembly has five women legislators, including three ministers, none of them spoke up to draw the attention of the government to contain the crime.
Earlier, moving the special motion, Lyngdoh highlighted a bleak scenario in terms of security and safety of women on the eve of International Women’s Day.
Without naming any individual, Lyngdoh said, “There is something disgusting happening in Meghalaya. One legislator is in jail, the name of the Home minister is figuring in the case and a former governor is involved in a case of misconduct towards women.”
He said there are as many as 23 reported rape cases from January till February 23 and it has become a daily affair.
According to Lyngdoh, there is a deep sense of insecurity among women, parents and guardians and the government should take immediate steps to correct the image of the state or this will affect tourism and economic activities. He also advocated the need for forming committees in government departments as per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
Giving figures about the rape cases and conviction, Lyngdoh said the situation is grim and added that more grim is the figures related to abduction and killing of women.
The women undergo agony, pain and extreme hardships due to various crimes committed on them and it is a heart-wrenching situation, he said.
“What have we done to address the issue and what has the government done to check such crimes,” he asked.
According to Lyngdoh, the elected representatives are on one side and even the officers are not free from the crime. He cited the case of the particular director of the government department who forced a female peon to stay with him or face harassment.
Lyngdoh also stressed on the need for immediately restarting the fast track courts, which were stopped in 2015, to deal with crime against women. To back his argument, he said in 2014, the fast track court in Tura disposed of 521 out of 558 cases.
The UDP legislator also said there should be a scientific approach as far as investigation into crime against women is concerned and added that the forensic laboratory needs to be revamped.
He also wanted the government to take steps to ensure that Meghalaya is not seen as a place avoided by tourists due to the spurt in such crimes.
“I don’t want Shillong to figure in the travel advisory list as a place to be avoided,” he added.
According to Lyngdoh, the respect for women should be ingrained at school level.
The UDP legislator made a passionate plea to the government to ensure that the current trend is reversed so that “women can emerge from the nightmare as victors and not victims”.
Taking part in the debate, HSPDP’s Basaiawmoit and NPP’s Sangma stressed on the need for urgent steps to reduce crime against women and minors.
Sangma said the prosecution should be strengthened to ensure that the accused do not go scot-free.