Shillong, March 20: Being a matrilinial society, the state of Meghalaya is proud to have four women legislators representing in the state in the legislative assembly. To honour the four legislators the Meghalaya State commission for women, a commission which look into the welfare of women and children felicitated them at an august gathering which was held at the office of the Meghalaya State Commission for women on Tuesday.
History was created in the state of Meghalaya with four women legislators altogether. In the recent past the state witness lone women legislator Ampareen Lyngdoh but this time three more women were elected to the state assembly.
“This shows that the matrilinial society has been approved as more women participated in contesting the election,” chairperson of the Meghalaya State women commission theilin Phanbuh said.
Delivering the welcome address at a feleicitation ceremony of the four women legislators Phanbuh opined that with more women representatives at the legislative assembly issues relating to women discrimination is expected to be addressed accordingly.
Lamenting over the fact that though Meghalaya has from time immemorial been a matrilinial society with women having a priority in the society, President of Meghalaya Alliance S Tham said with four women members in the assembly it is now convincing that truly Meghalaya is a matrilinial society.
“Let the state be an example to other states in the country that women is being empowered,” Tham said adding that a new image of Meghalaya be projected not only in the country but even outside the country. Manwhile, delivering their speeches the four legislators mentioned that they will work to their best of their effort to address women issues.Social welfare minister Deborah marak said that there is an alarming rise of crime against women and therefore she urged upon the people to joined hands together and work in tandem to bring about a stop in crime against women.
Marak also stated that women are in a better position in the state. “just representing the state is not enough but it needs the support and help of all the women folk of the state to achieve the goals,” marak stated.
She further highlighted to bring about change and a conducive administration and mechanism to curb crime against women in the state.
Lady Home Minister Roshan warjri also added that the people should work together and join hands together to curb the menace of crime against women which is alarming in the state. The Home minister said that rise of crime against women and girll child is a grave concern and she also assure that she will reach out to the women folks of the society to adress the issues besides she also said that measures will be taken in due course of time to tackle the menace.
Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh while expressing her concern that there is victims of rape cases were delayed justice, Lyngdoh urged upon the Home Minister to speed up and make forensic laps operationised in order to bring about speedy justice to rape victims.
Lamenting that rape cases have been lied pending, Lyngdoh said that steps should be expedite in order to make fast track courts try all pending cases of rape .
“Fast track courts should try all pending cases of rape”, lyngdoh said Commenting on various other attrocities faced by women, the Urban Affairs minister said that ample benefits should be provided to the under privilege women and children through the ICDS centre.
“ICDS centres should be women and children friendly,’’ Lyngdoh opined She also said that even more attention should also be paid to differntly abled women and children in the state and that necessary intervention be made through the Chief Minister’s scheme meant esspecially for them.
On the other hand, Dikanshi Shira also said that she will is concern of the rising crime against women and also mentioned that women issues will be her priority.Meanwhile, the programme ended with the cutting of the victory cake by all the four women legislators.(SP News)
