SHILLONG/TURA: Agnes Kharshiing, the president of Civil Society Women’s Organisation, has asked women to march ahead in their quest for justice without thinking about consequences.
Speaking on the occasion of International Women’s Day on Friday, the activist, who is recovering after the attack by coal mafia last November, said women in rural areas should speak out against injustice against them. “The voice of the voiceless will grow in Meghalaya in the coming years,” she added.
Kharshiing vowed to continue her fight against evils. She was instrumental in fighting for several rape victims in the state and is pursuing the case of trafficking and gang rape of a minor. Former MLA Julius Dorphang was arrested in connection with the case.
Kharshiing criticised the government for not instituting a proper inquiry into the attack saying “people from a particular political party were involved and it is natural that the government will go very slow on the matter”.
“Violence is being allowed to continue… the government is not doing anything about it,” she added.
Senior Congress leader Zenith Sangma also targeted the state government on the issue.
“I don’t see that this government is giving any priority to the issues of women,” he said, adding that safety of women was a top priority of the Congress.
The previous Congress-led MUA government refused to drop HDR Lyngdoh from the Cabinet even after it was found that the minor girl was gang raped in the guest house owned by his family.
Focus on menstrual hygiene
Mentrual hygiene was the focus of some events in the city. A 2.2-km run from Shillong Club premises was organised by JCI Shillong Pine City, Nine Foundation in association with the Terapanth Mahila Samiti, Lady Keane College, Big FM and Eastern Panorama Foundation. Altogether, 340 participants aged between 16-77 years took part in the run. Deputy Commissioner, M War Nongbri spoke on the need to eradicate the taboo associated with menstruation.
JC Harsh Jhunjhunwala of JCI Shillong lamented that only 18 per cent of women in India have access to sanitary pads. Similar runs were organised in Jorhat, Guwahati, Barpeta, Bijoynagar and a host of other cities across the country.
In another event, an awareness programme was organised at Nongumlong village in Upper Shillong on the theme ‘WeForHer 2.0’ which was a joint initiative by 45 Rotary Clubs. The programme was organised to create awareness on menstrual hygiene and usage of sanitary napkins. Sanitary napkin packets were also distributed in the village.
SPARK event
SPARK, a local NGO, held a programme for women in rural areas “who are unaware of the unique and precious role played by them in building the family as well as the nation”. Children prayed for the strength, development and well-being of the women as a whole.
Celebrations in Garo Hills
International Women’s Day on the theme ‘Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change’ was celebrated in Garo Hills on Friday.
In Tura, a programme was organised at PA Sangma Stadium where chairperson of Meghalaya State Commission for Women Thelin Phanbuh spoke.
Phanbuh lamented that though Meghalaya is matrilineal, it is controlled by men, and women should be part of the decision-making process in the society.
