Change in social mindset imperative, notes State Commission for Women

GANGTOK, 06 Jan: Sikkim State Commission for Women has expressed deep anguish over the recent death of a woman and her newborn child at Namphey near Pakyong as she attempted a secret unassisted childbirth.
A press release issued by the Chairperson of the Commission, Subhadra Rai, states that “fear of the society” must have driven her to take such a drastic step. It may be mentioned here that a 25-year-old woman was found dead beside a kholcha in Pakyong sub division along with her new born infant on 01 January.
The incident, the release states, “reflects the social mind set against women and unless we the society as a whole bring about a change such cases will continue to occur”.
Despite the emphasis on the status of women in society, gender equality and empowerment of women from various quarters, the “deeply ingrained patriarchal system and dominating nature of men” is to be blamed for such incidents, the Commission notes.
Further stating that women need to raise their voice against such acts the release adds that education can bring about a change in the long run.

Number of cases received by State Women’s Commission down to 94 in 2011-12 from 122 in 2010

AMEET OBEROI
GANGTOK, 14 June: The Sikkim State Commission for Women [SSCW] has received a total of 250 cases from 2010 till May 2012 and it is informed that almost all the cases have been resolved. SSCW has successfully solved 226 of these cases, while 34 cases that were registered with the Commission since April 2012 will be heard by the Commission on 15 and 29 June. The cases that the Commission has addressed so far since 2010 are of family dispute, matrimonial dispute, assault, property dispute, mental torture and illicit relations.
Speaking to NOW!, Chairperson SSCW, Subhadra Rai, stated that the highest number of cases registered with the Commission was in the year 2010-11 when 122 cases came to it. This number has come down to 94 in 2011-12. This decrease in the number of cases is, according to the Chairperson, is a result of wider awareness on women’s issues and rights among people in the state. The count for the year 2012-13 has begun with 34 cases so far.
She went on to add that all cases received by the Commission are given the highest priority and justice delivered to all those women and even men who knock on the doors of the Commission seeking justice.
Ms Rai mentioned that the Commission has been conducting awareness camps across the state covering all the districts, every year and the target groups set for the camps are Panchayats, non governmental organisations, elderly citizens, women, men and even the young generation.
She adds that women in distress and unwed mothers, if traced during any case, are sent to Mamtalaya for a fixed tenure, where they are facilitated with some skill development training to help them come into the mainstream society on their own.
“The best part about our society is that distressed and unwed women are accepted back the society when they come out of the Mamtalaya and are even encouraged due to which no additional problems are being faced so far by women in the state,” said Ms Rai.
Speaking on bigamy, the Chairperson stated, “There exist no laws or rights for the second wife rather all the rights are only secured by the first wife, so it’s important for every woman across the state to think twice before getting into such relationships”.
Ms Rai informed that women from all sections of the society including working women knock the doors of the Commission for justice.