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S B Leima from Manipur and her entourage seen with NMA and NYK officials in Kohima.[/caption]
The growing violence against women, is what motivated Sougaijam Bidyalashmi Leima from Manipur to undertake a cycle tour to all the North Eastern states with a message - “Stop violence against women” She reached Kohima yesterday evening. Leima was received by Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) and Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) Kohima and after holding for the night here, she proceeded towards Dimapur on Sunday for her onward journey to Assam, Arunahcal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura.
“It has become a widespread phenomenon that women, everywhere, are understated and repressed in one way or the other. Amidst such a contemptible scenario, a peace cycle tour embodied solely with the message of ‘Stop violence against women’ has been organized that will encompass the seven NE States,” stated a leaflet provided by Leima’s entourage.
The leaflet outlined the objectives of the cycle tour which is to spread the awareness about the various atrocities against women and girls and how this severely affect a nation’s economy and various other resources.
Her mission also aims to influence the government to initiate various programmes on gender sensitization and lay out such legislations so as to root out completely the various crimes and violence against women.
“Let us dedicate ourselves for the coming generations. Let us not simply stand and wait for other to help us,” her message said.
Meanwhile, extending support to Leima and her entourage for the bold and noble venture, NMA said “it is an important moment for us and we support every movement and programme fighting these issues to stop “crimes and violence against women and girls”.
Expressing that crimes and violence upon women and girls is unacceptable, the NMA called upon all to “commit ourselves and pledge to work together to eradicate it from our society”.
“Our nation is gripped with the rising occurrence of rapes, murders and violence to women and girls,” NMA said that Nagaland as well as the rest of the north east states is not far behind.
Mothers/women have been traumatized with horrific and brutal rapes and murders not sparing even the old/aged and physically challenged ones, the NMA lamented.
“With all seriousness, we need to address the present social menace and introspect where the society has gone wrong, NMA said adding that the need to change our mindset has also become a necessity.
The NMA maintained that girls in the family should be given the same equal status as with the boys while men need to be taught to respect girls, women and mothers.
“Violence against women” needs to be addressed right from the grassroots level, it said.
The NMA also reiterated its demand to the government to set up “Fast Tract Court” in every district of Nagaland to deliver timely justice to the victims of violence, rapes, and murders.