Secretary of Women Action for Development (WAD) Sobita Mangsatabam on Monday drew attention of the authorities concerned on the need to rectify the justice delivery system in Manipur, citing loopholes which have been reportedly witnessed in the functioning of judicial as well as the police while fighting a case.
She was delivering her speech during a one-day consultation programme on ‘Rethinking the Status of Women and Children in Manipur’ that was held at The Classic Hotel in Imphal West. It was organised by Imphal East District Women Committee of United NGO Mission, Manipur.
Sobita informed that there have been trends of settling crime against women cases through compromise after taking up initiative by the police instead of taking legal procedure against the culprit(s).
She said ahead of it, there are various pending cases on crime against women due to delay in submitting the charge-sheet.
Considering all these factors, many did not consider such crime as a serious matter and the rate of crime against women is rising up in the state as a result, she added.
The secretary stressed that punishing the culprits involved in crime against women according to the law of the land in a very speedy manner will be a great factor to reduce such crimes. “Such will remind every individual of the effective justice delivery system of the state before committing any crime against women,” she added.
A street vendor Ima Bina while sharing her opinion on the burning issue of street vendors of Manipur said, “We are not scared of the police’s lathi. What really concern us is going home penniless as we have children to feed,”
Regarding the government’s order to shift their vending place (presently at Khwairamband bazar) to Lamphel Super Market complex, she questioned, “How are we going to adjust with those vendors who have been presently vending at Lamphel?”, “Please don’t try to create misunderstanding between the vendors,” she added.
The vendors in Khwairamband Keithel are not asking for additional support from the government, she said and said “what we are asking is our rights. We are running our family with dignity.”
Pointing out the need of taking up a ground survey of all the vendors and not on papers, she said that the government should act as per the survey report by giving a proper location which can fit the vendors or any other means.
Speaking as a resource person, Imphal Free Press reporter Babie Shirin also pointed out the reported loopholes in the justice delivery system of the state.
She said that the proceedings of many cases of crime against women in the state moves very slowly in the court until a public movement is launched against the crime.
Such a system has compelled the victims of crime against women to come out publicly in demanding her rightful justice, she added.
Concerning the street vendor issue, Shirin pointed out that the IMC, which is a corporate body of urban development and management, appears to be completely defunct.
IMC is responsible for the management of the vendors, she said and questioned the reason for not providing the free space available at the first floor of the three Ima Market to the vendors.
The state government never hears the cry of the innocents unless an agitation is taken up, she said, cautioning the government that vendors might take up intense forms of agitations if the government remains unjust to them.
Recalling that the Nupi Lal of 1939 erupted from an artificial famine triggered by the British imperialists, she said, “The vendor's issue is a matter of earning daily bread for their families.”
