Manipur witnessed the rise of women in state politics in the recent state Assembly election 2022, but majority of women in the state are still fighting socio-cultural barriers and challenges of gender inequality despite their immense contribution to the growth of the state, expressed several women leaders in the state in Imphal on Monday.
The concern was raised during the National Parliament for Women, organised by the Manipur State Commission for Women (MSCW), at Classic Grande, Chingmeirong, Imphal West on Monday. Women from different walks of life attended the session and several issues pertaining to the rights of women and girl child were raised.
While women from various sections opined that increasing the number of women in legislative bodies is the key to uplift status of women, they also expressed the hope that the newly elected five women candidates would work towards the betterment of girl child and women in the Manipuri society.
“To translate the voice of women into action, a good number of women’s representatives in the legislative body is much needed. For this every woman should support women candidates and at the same time, the elected candidate should respect the mandate given to them,” convenor WinG Nonibala Narengbam said on the occasion.
She also opined that “due to social and cultural structure, women of the state are still confronting issues of inequalities despite the fact that they are contributing a lot… It is high time that work done by housewives should be accounted for and should be equally appreciated by the society like they do to working ladies”.
The MSCW and NCW should relook women’s reservation in Parliament as well as in the Autonomous District Council (ADC).
Highlighting the dire need of increasing the number of women in politics, senior Journalist, Sonia Sorensangbam urged the elected members to contribute in policy making to bring all-round welfare to this section of the society.
Chairperson in-charge, MSCW, Thumlip Tiningpham Monsang said that the Government of India has taken up various initiatives to improve the status of women and promote gender equality but in certain areas women are lagging behind still.
She further said that some of the steps taken up for the welfare of women which can be cited are maternity leave, equal pay to that of man, free legal AIDS service to every woman and free education under Right to Education among others. Apart from this, the Constitution of India had guaranteed numerous rights and freedom irrespective of caste, gender and class to keep every section of society in one status.
“The women of Manipur are contributing a lot in many fields but unfortunately their participation in politics is very low. This reason is associated with social and cultural barriers in the form of violence, discrimination and illiteracy,” she added.
Congratulating all the newly elected women candidates of Manipur, she said that their election to the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly is a proud moment for every woman. The growth in the number of women legislators points to increased political activism and political consciousness in this section of society. The MSCW hoped that the newly elected women leaders would bring some changes, particularly for women in the society, she said.
Pointing out that the Government of India had passed a reservation policy for local self-government as a strategy to combat gender inequality in the country, the MSCW chairperson in-charge called upon all women to strive together to overcome all the challenges and barriers being confronted by them. As the legislature is the highest decision-making body, focus should be given to a greater number of women in this section.
Other who attended the function were chairperson, Manipur Human Rights Commission, Khaidem Mani Singh; chairperson, Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Ph Manibabu Sharma; chairperson in-charge, Manipur State Commission for Schedule Tribe, member, MSCW, Lourembam Dayabati Devi; member, MSCW, T Chuongsin Koireng and director, Social Welfare, Ng Uttam Singh as chief guest, special guests and guests of honour respectively.
