Kohima: With domestic violence showing an
upward trend in traditional Naga society, a BSNL helpline for
women facing domestic violence was launched in Nagaland as
part of the International Women`s Day celebrations on Monday.
Known as `1092 Helpline`, it is a multi-agency
response to women facing domestic violence in the state.
Coordination among various government departments,
legal professionals and NGOs was being worked out to give the
initiative a concrete shape and it would help victims and
their families, Secretary, department of Women Development, N
Hushili told a gathering.
Before launching the Helpline, chairperson of Nagaland
State Commission for Women, Sano Vamuzo regretted that
although the State Assembly had passed the bill enshrining 33
per cent reservation in municipal bodies in 2006, it was yet
to be implemented in Nagaland.
The government postponed the elections to urban local
bodies indefinitely on some pretext or the other, she said.
Although women elsewhere in the country enjoyed
reservation of seats in panchayats and municipal bodies, Naga
women were yet to get that opportunity, Vamuzo regretted.
Urban Development Secretary Norman Putsure in his key
note address said women had come a long way in the past 100
years in asserting their rights and getting recognition for
their contribution to societal development all over the world.
From the tradition-bound society to the present one,
Naga women have also come a long way in various fields. The
latest positive development was their involvement in economic
activities, both as an individual or as a member of self help
groups (SHGs) but they are yet to be recognised as an equal
partner in crucial decision-making process in the public
sphere, Putsure said.
Additional Chief Secretary Banou Z Jamir advocated
serious introspection and analysis of discriminatory customary
laws in the context of modern society so that those could be
amended suitably to make them gender-friendly.
She also informed that the government had already
constituted a high-power committee to look into gender
budgeting aspect in the annual expenditure.
Reports received here from other districts said the
day was celebrated across Nagaland with programmes by schools,
government institutions and NGOs. This year`s UN theme for IWD
is "Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all."
The Women Development department also conducted an
essay competition on the subject "If I were to become a
municipal councillor" which received overwhelming response from
young women with 54 entries. The best essay was read out at
today`s function.
PTI
