SHILLONG, March 21: Women safety continues to remain a pressing concern for the state police albeit crackdowns on insurgency have been very much successful.
This was informed by Special Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang during a one-day symposium on women safety at the State Convention Centre, Shillong, on Monday.
According to a statement, the symposium was conducted and sponsored by Police Training School, Umran, and Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), New Delhi, respectively.
The objective of the symposium was to consolidate the efforts of all stakeholders to ensure the safety, security and well-being of women and children in Meghalaya.
Nongrang, in her address, informed that there are 16 laws to address various issues pertaining to women and 13 rights which are guaranteed to all women under the Constitution of India.
“Despite a plethora of laws and regulations, the question arises as to why we have symposiums and awareness programmes when, in fact, the crimes against women have not gone down in any way rather it has seen an increase,” she said.
Nongrang lamented that crimes against women continue unabated in Meghalaya despite it being a matrilineal state.
Nongrang also said that although the police have been able to quell organised violence or insurgency-related violence, other types of violence against women — be at workplace or public places — continue to remain a cause of concern.
She also hoped that the symposium would go a long way in addressing the safety and security of women in Meghalaya.
The inaugural session was followed by sessions on the topics — Legal Provision & Latest Amendment Act relating to Women & Children, Overview on POCSO Act 2012, Medico Legal Challenges, Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace, Mechanism to handle sexual harassment at Workplace, Domestic Violence Act and Presentation on Case Study on Trafficking of Women & Children.
A panel discussion on investigation of rape and murder cases was also held during the day.
