SHILLONG: The Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) is in the process to find out ways to assist single mothers as the state sees a rising number of women who have to raise children alone and are often subjected to exploitation.
MSCW chairperson Theilin Phanbuh said on Friday the commission recently completed a study on single mothers to find a solution to their problems.
During the one-day legal awareness programme organised by MSCW at at Khlieh Shnong in Sohra, the chairperson said these days, women, especially single mothers, are subjected to a lot of exploitation.
The main aobjective of the programme was to make women residing in rural areas aware of their rights and legal knowledge to carry out basic procedures like how to file a complaint or FIR and how to seek help of a protection officer when needed.
Phanbuh said the awareness will serve as a protection against any violation of rights or abuse and discrimination against them. “As a Commission, we stand for the protection of the rights of all women,” she said.
She informed that earlier, the Commission had conducted training for women on entrepreneurship, in particular on the setting up of home-stays where a number of women from Sohra had participated.
The commission will continue such trainings so as to promote more women in taking up entrepreneurial projects.
Later, the technical session saw presentations and speeches from different experts working in the field of women and gender issues. Rebina Subba, Advocate, spoke on the topic of ‘Women and the Indian Constitution’ focusing on women and family law.
Annie Sohtun, coordinator, MSCW, highlighted the participants on the PWDV Act 2005.
The session on Child Marriage Act was taken by I. Tariang, member secretary, MSCW.
The programme saw the participation of members from different women’s organisations, Anganwadi workers, college and school students as well as people residing in various villages around Sohra Civil Sub Division.
The event was supported by the National Commission for Women, New Delhi.
