SHILLONG: Congress legislator Ampareen Lyngdoh has expressed concern over harassment of men when dealing with cases of crime against women.
Lyngdoh, who admitted that atrocities on women are on the rise, told the House during the debate on governor’s address that “there is a new crime and that is crime against men”. Elaborating, she said many men are also harassed in cases involving crime against women.
Speaking about the rise in other forms of crime in her constituency, Lyngdoh said for the last two and a half months, 38 incidents of crime, including theft and burglary, were registered.
“Maximum offences were drug related involving juveniles and only a few arrests were made,” she added.
The MLA also raised concern over high incidents of pickpocketing in Police Bazaar and Bara Bazaar and said that “some sort of crime web organisation” is carrying out theft.
Availability of medicines
On the health and medical front, Lyngdoh referred to the Cabinet’s approval of the Free Drugs Policy and sought information about the 76 essential drugs which will be provided free of cost to poor patients.
She said poor people did not find medicines in Civil Hospital and hence approached private pharmacies.
Farmers’ plight
Pointing to 1917iTEAMS platform for farmers, Lyngdoh said she had registered with the portal but maintained that there was no progress when she wanted to get to buyers.
She observed that famers have to finally fall back on dalals, or middlemen, in the market.
ODF status
Again, Lyngdoh pointed to the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status accorded to the state and said the it needs assessment. She said villagers are given only one commode but they are left to fend for themselves with no walls or water.
Coal mining
Referring to illegal coal mining, she said the governor’s address mentioned preparation of geological report and feasibility study and said such documents are to be made public for the people to have access to documents.
Amendment to Sixth Schedule
Commenting on the Amendment to Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, she said there are too many gaps and took exception to the word “territorial” council which she argued has a lot of political indicators. She expressed surprise over the sudden change of name from district council to territorial council.
Hawkers’ issue
She said the governor’s address did not mention hawkers as she rued the plight of commuters in presence of many hawkers on footpaths and along roads. The MLA sought the government’s move to tackle the hindrance posed by the hawkers.
