SHILLONG: The Assembly Committee on Women Empowerment has found several lacunae in the functioning of the Health department.
The Committee, which submitted its report in the Assembly here on Thursday, said that there were technical lapses which hindered the setting up of the one-stop crisis centre and the proposed 100-bed hospital at Ganesh Das. It also observed that there is no time frame to ensure that the centre becomes functional.
In its report, the Committee raised concerns over lack of facilities made available to the women at the maternity ward of Ialong Civil Hospital as pregnant women were lying and sleeping on the floor as well as verandah. Besides, it also stated that the ward lacked presence of specialists and trained technicians.
Mentioning about Songsak PHC, the Committee expressed concern over the high infant and maternal mortality rate.
It also said that pregnant women, without proper identification details, could not avail the government schemes.
The report mentioned that during a spot inspection tour to Garo Hills last year, the Committee was informed that there is bulk trafficking of women in the region and that the MMR and IMR is high. It was also informed that domestic violence is on the rise in the region.
Earlier in 2018, the Committee also held discussions with the Social Welfare department and Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) about the implementation ongoing women welfare schemes in the state.
It also deliberated with the Law and Social Welfare department on the initiative taken by the departments with regard to the implementation of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2018. The Committee was informed that a law was already in place, which was amended to make provisions for offences committed in workplace.