NEW DELHI, Dec 16: Padma Shri Patricia Mukhim, Editor of The Shillong Times, was on Monday awarded the prestigious ‘Saahas Shrestha: Shero of Courage’ honour for her extraordinary contributions to building peace across multiple fault lines in Northeastern region by the Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP).
In her speech, Mukhim said, “The challenges persist because we don’t know the steps towards conflict transformation. We jump to resolution.”
Mukhim, known for her fearless writing, debunked the myths of matrilineal society of Khasis and Garo tribes contrary to the romantic popular belief. “There are many single mothers with children who have been deserted by their husbands who do not share any responsibility unlike other forms of families,” she pointed out.
She also came down heavily on all pervasive poverty in the hill states like Meghalaya where women suffer most. “Just go out of Shillong city and you can find abject poverty in many families,” she said.
Mukhim was handed the award and the citations by Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India.
People and peace negotiators from across South Asia were awarded for their “work with women to build peace at the grassroots in areas of protracted conflict,” said an official release.
Apart from Mukhim, Laxmi Chetri from Action Northeast Trust and Deepa Pawar from Anubhuti Charitable Trust, respectively, received the ‘Shakti Award’ for their contribution to women subjected to gender-based violence and marginalised women from nomadic communities. Conflict Victim Women National Network, Nepal, and activist Omar Hafiz bagged the ‘Chetna Award’ for their work in psycho-social support for female victims of conflict in Nepal and for gender rights in Kashmir respectively.
Netherlands’ Ambassador Marisa Gerards, German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann, along with Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India, among others facilitated the awardees. This edition of the Saahas Awards is particularly significant as WISCOMP celebrates 25 years of work on promoting South Asian women’s leadership in peace and security.
WISCOMP Director Dr Meenakshi Gopinath said, “WISCOMP through this effort is bringing powerful voices that seek to build and nurture cultures of peace in South Asia and who have worked ceaselessly to transcend narrow borders and boundaries. In highlighting the experiences of those on the margins impacted by conflict and violence, this is a powerful message to keep hope alive through the work of these fearless, intrepid advocates — the Saahasis (the courageous).”
The awards jury comprised distinguished experts headed by Ambassador Shyam Saran, former Foreign Secretary of India and an advocate for various international initiatives. Other members of the jury were Ambassador Gautam Mukhopadhaya, Senior Visiting Fellow and former Indian Ambassador to multiple nations; Gita Mittal, former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir and a champion of gender training for judges; Krishna Menon, professor and former Dean with notable contributions to gender and political studies; Susan Ferguson, Country Representative for UN Women in India with extensive expertise in gender and development; and Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India, with significant experience in social justice.
