Dimapur, APRIL 28 (MExN): The Superintendent of Police, Kohima, Joseph Hesso (IPS) today said there has been an increase in the incidences of violence against women in Nagaland State.
He was speaking at the consultative meeting organized by the Kohima Police Department and the State Resource Centre for Women (One Stop Centre & Women Helpline 181) on April 28 at the Office of the Superintendent of Police, Kohima. A press note from the State Resource Centre for Women said that the meeting was held with the objective to strengthen convergence mechanism for addressing Violence against Women.
Giving an overview of the present status of violence against women in Nagaland, the Kohima SP informed that in 2015, 23 cases of crimes against women were reported; in 2016, the number rose to 24, and at present for 2017, 5 cases have been reported.
He informed that the highest number of such cases involved rape, molestation, kidnapping, attempt to murder, and human trafficking propagated through the medium of modern technology. He shared that the police strives to ensure confidentiality of the victim so that she is not further victimized. Hesso also informed that in 2016, the Women Police Station was inaugurated, which will cater exclusively to the needs of women.
The Centre Administrator of the OSC, Kohima, Vikhoriano Meru, gave a presentation on the inception and functioning on the OSC, Kohima, a scheme to provide integrated service for victims of violence under one roof.
The Women Helpline Manager, Lanurenla Imchen briefed the gathering on the working of the 181 which provides 24x7 toll free service to women in distress. Lanurenla and Repabenla Longkumer, Case Workers, OSC Kohima, presented on the legal rights of women. Toli K Assumi, Counselor, OSC Kohima, and Visekolie Noel Khate, Call Responder, WHL – 181, presented on the importance of psycho-social support in dealing with victims of violence against women.
The challenges and way forward were deliberated at length where the participants shared their experiences. The need for upgrading the forensic lab in the state was reiterated as a means for a more efficient and quicker delivery of justice. The need to have a State Protective Home and rehabilitation centre to cater to victims of human trafficking was also discussed. One major difficulty expressed was the lack of services for the mentally challenged. While emphasizing the importance of sensitization of police personnel and the public on the issue of gender based violence, the SP Kohima, assured the support of the Police Department.
The sessions were chaired by Gracy Ayee, State Coordinator, State Resource Centre for Women, (SRCW). She emphasized on the need to strengthen collaborative effort in achieving the common goal of addressing gender based violence. She stressed on the roles and responsibilities of the converging departments, i.e., the Department of Social Welfare, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Home Department and the Department of Law & Justice/ State Legal Services Authority, laid down in the guidelines for effectively implementing Sakhi- One Stop Centres (OSC) and Women Helpline (WHL) -181.
The OSC & WHL are schemes initiated by the Ministry of Women & Child Development, GoI, and SRCW is the nodal agency to implement it in the State. Two OSC’s have been established in Dimapur and Kohima.
