Morung Express News
Kohima | November 24
The fortnight observation on elimination of violence against women was launched on November 24 at De
Oriental Grand. Under the theme ‘From Peace in the Home to Peace in the world: Make education safe for all,’ the event was organized by the Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW).
While violence is usually understood in empirical terms of physical abuse, Dr. Temsula Ao, Chairperson NSCW in her introductory speech pointed out the new concept of violence that is perpetrated on the women’s psyche in the guise of tradition. In Naga society, Dr Temsula viewed that customs and practices are still in the oral form only and have never been reviewed or amended in keeping with the changing lifestyle of the people.
“The unwritten laws are therefore often interpreted arbitrarily by the male custodians of these laws and more often than not, the judgments are tilted against women. The truth remains that all these old practices have little considerations for women’s rights in Naga society,” she said. Dr Temsula further said that these forms of existential discrimination must be seen as violence to women’s intrinsic rights, and must be acknowledged by all right thinking Naga men, so that together a solution can be found. Subtle intimidation and psychological subjugation persist in Naga society which Dr. Temsula viewed, is because of “male intransigence in their attitude towards women whom they consider as inferior to them in the patriarchal system.’
“We must admit there are many crippling features against women in our customary laws and tradition which have to be seriously and honestly re-evaluated by men in the context of our evolved society in the 21st Century,” she added.
Stressing on the normalcy of discrimination against women which was considered a ‘way of life’ in Naga society, Mezivolu T. Therieh, NJS, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kohima & Secretary, KDLSA lamented that such structural discrimination against women and children are still noticed today.
“Excluding women and girls in our structures and policies is actually excluding progressive development. Women are the heart of any progressive development agenda; inclusion of women and their cooperation is the key to a functional and just society. We here in Nagaland have held ourselves hostage by holding women back at a time their efforts would have alleviated us from the chasm we helplessly stumble in today as the world progress ahead,” she stated.
Despite achieving 50 years of our statehood, Nagaland does not have any elected women representatives in the decision making bodies. This, Therieh viewed as a massive political injustice in Nagaland.
Drawing attention to the one third seats reserved for women in the municipalities, a constitutional mandate under Art 243T (3), Therieh pointed out that the demand for reservation is not a fight between men and women but to empower women in uplifting them, and enabling them to contribute towards the development and progress of the society. “Women’s role in the decision making position is indispensible and without reservation, even in another 50 years, we may not have any women representation. Not holding municipal elections with 33 percent reservation for women is discriminatory and impinges upon the rights of the women,” stated Therieh adding that if Nagaland is to have municipalities, then reservation of seats for women is binding.
Sharing the activities of the Police department in empowering women and prevention of crime against women, S. Saravanan, IPS, IG (Crime) stated that women police in Nagaland comprised of 6.87 per cent. Saravanan also informed that in 2013, there were 76 cases of violence against women reported; in 2014, 66 cases reported; in 2015, 66 cases were reported and in 2016 (till October) 37 cases have been registered. Many reports also go unregistered.
“Centuries have come and centuries have gone but the plight of women has not changed much. Time has helplessly watched women suffering in the form of discrimination, oppression, exploitation, degradation, aggression and humiliation,” Saravanan lamented.
