Shillong, December 07: The Grassroot a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) has been and is continuing its endeavour to bring about societal change in the community. As part of the process of this change, Grassroot is involved in Community Health with NHM, National Urban Livelihood Mission with SMB and has also initiated documentation of herbal edible herbs, Folkore of the khasis and is also networking with different institutions locally, nationally and internationally.
Grassroot is also volunteering in aiding women who are survivors of Rape, Domestic violence by aiding them in the process to acquire legal services whenever the need arise. So far Grassroot has been able to aid more than 6 women since it started volunteering in 2014. This volunteer programme has led us to think more outside the box when we learn the slow long process of the law and is legal tenacities.
As part of the process to raise awareness amongst the young people an inter college debate competition on Legalization of Prostitution will be organized, on the 9th of December 2016 at, Dinam Hall, Jaiaw Pdeng, Shillong, from 10:30AM-1:00PM and a Gala Night depicting the lives of women in the form of a fashion show at NEHU, Shillong on the 10th of December 2016, from 5:30PM to 9:00PM.
Since time immemorial women have been treated as mere objects or as the ‘second gender’ in the society. As time passes, with the increase in general crime; crime against women has touched sky high. In the 21st century with the advent of technology, increase in education and more awareness than the previous generations, inversely people are turning a blind eye towards the evils committed on women. The crimes committed on women are Molestation and sexual harassment and eve teasing, Rape, date rape, Domestic violence, Human trafficking, Prostitution, Stalking, Child Sexual Violence and Crime against minors.
The Grassroot said that, moreover, crime against women mostly goes unnoticed, unreported or unregistered for reasons such as pressure from society and community, self repenting, threats from the criminal, loose or no action from the police, no proper representation in the justice system and high legal fees. Hence the survivors is always at a loss and therefore is denied justice, which she is entitled to as a right by the government.
Looking at this grave situation which needs immediate attention, Grassroot, Shillong, has decided to take a firm initiative to curb this menace, and give women the financial freedom and support to pursue their cases in the Judiciary, considering the legal fees of good lawyers to be high where most times, the survivors and their families are unable to afford legal fees.
To raise fund the Grassroot will organized the Debate Competition on issues related to laws and policies pertaining to Violence Against Women (VAW), whereby colleges from different parts of East Khasi Hills will be invited to participate and speak on Legalization of Prostitution, on the 9th of December 2016 at Dinam Hall, Jaiaw Pdeng, Shillong.
This concept will enhance a better understanding amongst students thus enabling our young minds to speak out and not brush Violence Against Women issues under the carpet. This concept will also build young minds to be more sensitive to policies and changes that need to prevent VAW .
This fund raiser will call upon members of the community to be a part of the social change and contribute towards the vision of the event. A fashion show depicting the lives of women and a musical event will be organized on the 10th of December 2016, keeping in mind the International Human Rights Day held every year in the UN calendar. The gala night hopes to raise funds to enable the legal accessibility and judicial justice for and of women. The Gala Night Will be held on the 10th of December 2016 at NEHU Community Centre, Mawlai Umshing from 5:30pm to 9:00pm.
