ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMISSION
DURING THE YEAR (a) 2004-05 (b) 2006-07
(a)
2004-05
The endeavour of the Commission
for the last one year was mainly to create awareness of the rights of women in
the Society and then to sensitize the different traditional bodies to allow more
space for women to participate at the grassroots level as well in the other
decision making bodies. The Commission with the assistance from the National
Commission for Women, New Delhi has been able to conduct Seminars/Consultations
with different NGOs to have a better participation of women in all developmental
programmes. The active participation of the members of the Commission has
strengthened the activities undertaken during the year under report. The
Commission also appreciates the support extended by the Directorate of Social
Welfare from time to time.
1. The
Chairperson, soon after assuming the charge along-with its members have visited
the Government Hospital for mentally retarded to assess the facilities provided
by the government, especially to the sick women and children with regard to
their health, security, privacy, medical assistance, etc. The Commission, in
this regard had approached the concerned department to improve the existing
facilities and bring in more efficiency.
2. The
Chairperson along-with the members have also visited few hospitals in the State
Capital for making assessment of the facilities provided, especially in the
Gynecology department and also the Shillong Jail, particularly the cell where
women prisoners are kept, which was found to be very congested. The Commission
had taken up the matter with the concerned department for all round
improvement.
3. Two meetings
were already held to discuss at length of frequent incidence of rape,
molestation and sexual abuse against women and children in certain districts of
the State and one awareness camp was conducted in West Khasi Hills. The focus
was early dating/elopement and teenage pregnancies vis-à-vis STD/HIV diseases.
Understandably, the reason for such manifold social issues in the rural as well
as urban areas is due to the lack of adequate and proper care from parents, and
un-awareness amongst the younger generation. The Camp held at Jaintia Hills
district under the Deputy Commissioner called for a collective effort to tackle
the issues by drawing Action Plan on ‘Short Term’ and ‘Long Term’ basis, which
is under process. With the objective for prevention of such social imbalance, a
joint effort involving NGOs, Church Leaders, etc. is inevitable. Awareness Camps
for imparting Moral Science and Sex education at the School level has already
been initiated in few districts, with the Motto ‘Catch them Young’.
4. The National
Commission for Women, New Delhi had sponsored a Seminar entitled ‘Women
Reservation in Durbars and Local Council (as per quota of 33 per cent
participation)’. With the basic objective of emphasizing women’s
participation in local legislatures and other constituted bodies, the Khasi
Cultural Society in collaboration with the Meghalaya State Commission for Women
had organized the Seminar which focused that women should have a place to
participate actively in the traditional forums. In this context, the men
present in the Seminar were sensitized and the Commission looks forward that the
traditional attitude will undergo some changes. More Seminars and Workshops are
proposed to be held at different districts to sensitize the village headmen to
allow more room to women in the matter of policy decisions and executive
enactments at the grass root level.
A similar Seminar
was conducted at Tura by the Garo Mothers’ Union. The women of Garo Hills are
concerned on this and also resolved that more women should be given a chance to
participate at the village councils.
5. The
Chairperson while participating the meeting of the constituted State Law
Commission expressed concern over frequent cases of harassment of women in work
places, family maintenance, grievances not getting proper legal redress, and the
perpetrator of assault, kidnapping and rape, out on bail with little hope of
punishment, because of the delay in dispensing justice. The Law Commission was
appealed to initiate inquiries about the reported rape cases, the nature of such
cases, in which Police Station they have been filed and slow progress of the
investigation. Suggestion was made for holding frequent Seminars for creating
awareness about women’s rights. In this regard, the Commission has taken up a
number of counseling programs during the period under report to avert indulgence
of court cases, etc. The Commission also persuaded a number of cases, which are
already in the Court of Law for speedy judgment.
6. The
Commission, during the period under report has identified some of the main
problems faced by women and children in common in the Garo Hills district. These
are :
1.
Unemployment : Only 1 to 2% women are employed as School teachers and
nurses.
2.
Education : Women literacy in Garo Hills is around 50% only. There are many
school drop outs due lack of motivation, inadequate and proper guidance from
parents, easy life style, etc.
3.
Health : Lack of knowledge on public health, hygiene, sanitation and dreaded
and contagious diseases, immunization, etc.
4.
Garo Customary Law : A young girl less than 18 years old can also be given
to an old man by the clan if the old man’s wife dies. This customary law is
known as ‘ON-RIKA’.
An Action Plan
is being worked out by the Commission in this regard.
7. The
Chairperson participated in a Seminar on ‘Status of Women and Customary Laws
among Tribal Population of North East India’ as Guest of Honour during the
period under Report. The Seminar focused on:
- to understand the status
of women in major tribal societies of North East India governed by Customary
Laws in the changing socio, cultural, economic and political scenario;
- to deliberate on the
applicability, relevance and efficacy of Customary laws in terms of
protecting interest of women in tribal societies in the present context;
8. In a yet
another seminar organized by the National Institute of Public Co-operation and
Child Development, Regional Centre, Guwahati, which was attended by the
Chairperson along with noted Anthropologists, Scholars and examined the existing
Customary laws of the tribal of North East India which governed by the 6th
Schedule and how it influences the life of the tribal women relating to
marriage, sex, relations, kinship inheritance, settlements and disputes, etc.
were focused. Considered from a gender perspective, the general perception is
that customary laws in tribal societies render justice irrespective of the
sexes. The Seminar sounded for the need for codification of customary laws
of the tribes.
With the
objective to disseminate information on various issues related to women,
the Commission is all set to publish a quarterly bi-lingual (in Khasi & Garo)
News Letter. The first edition is likely to be released shortly.
TOP
(b)
2006-07
The following are the main activities conducted by the
Meghalaya State Commission for Women.
Objectives:
To bring about the awareness of Women’s Right as enshrined
in CEDAW, Indian Constitution as well as other laws relevant to women in general
and especially belonging to weaker section of the society including SC/ST and
others.
To
enable the rural women to become aware of the various Central and State
Government schemes for the social and economic upliftment.
To
enable the rural women to become aware of health issues affecting them including
HIV/AIDS and STDs.
To empower women to fight violence against them to gain
access to free legal aid.
Campaign
to save the Girl-Child.
To
empower rural women exert their rights under the employment guaranteed scheme.
To make
the rural women aware about the Right to Information Act.
To make
the rural women fight cultural and traditional customs and taboos which
prevent them from exercising their rights.
To make
women aware about Dowry prohibition to make women aware about prevent of child
marriage.
To
empower rural women to live a life of dignity and honour.
The
Commission had written to the Chief Secretary to discuss in details with the
other concerned departments to work out the implementation of the programme
entitled “Chalo Goan Ki Ore”. Fund is awaited from the National Commission for
Women.
TOP
