John Wilbert
Port Blair, March 7: Along with the rest of the country and the world, International Women Day-2018 will also be celebrated across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on March 8, 2018. To mark the celebration, a meet the press was organized at Gandhi Bhawan. The Chief Spokesperson, PCC, Mr. K Ganeshan and senior Congress leader, Smt Shanta Singh Ex chairperson PBMC & Social Board and addressed the media and informed about the initiatives the Congress party is taking for the benefits and welfare of the women community in the Islands.
International Women’s Day is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements from the political to the social. The purpose of celebration of this day is to achieve full gender equality for women as gender pay gap still persists across the globe and women are still not present in equal numbers in business or politics. Women’s education, health and violence towards women are still worse than that of men.
Addressing scribes, the Chief Spokesperson told that the A&N Islands also do not lack behind when it comes to violence against the women. In the Port Blair city along, 15% of women had to face discrimination and violence at homes. For the name sake, a number of organizations claiming for working for the cause of women do exist, but in practically these organizations never come forward at the time of need. There is Women Cell, Social Welfare groups and NGOs set up and receiving financial grant for working for the welfare of women community, but still there is no end to violence and suffering of women. He said about 22 cases of marital discord were brought to the notice of the PCC. He said the PCC will appoint an advocate for the help of women to take up their cases. He also informed that the PCC President, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has assured that the Congress party has decided that they will provide free legal aid in the form of providing a advocate to the women to fight their legal cases.
Smt Shanta Singh, ex-chairperson SSWAB also raised a host of issues pertaining to the women on the occasion. She stated that a number of cases of violence against women remain unreported. She informed about how she was able to settle the cases of family disputes through rigorous counseling. She also stressed the need for conducting counseling camps by the Social Welfare Department and SSWAB to settle the family disputes. As many as eight women narrated their problems and urged the Administration to do the needful to save their family.
Women gathered in large number at Ghandi Bhawan today narrated the horrifying stories of violence lashed out against them by their husband at their homes. Replying to a question on the steps Congress party has initiated for supporting the women. Smt Neelaveni, PCC, Chairman, Mahila Congress and Smt Rishi, Mahila Congress PCC member were also present. The women are now decided to meet the Lt Governor and place their issues before him.
