A world without women is unimaginable. We live in a country where women are regarded as Devi, but today the society seems to have forgotten her,” lamented Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare.
While addressing a State-level women leaders’ convention on the International Women’s Day organised by the National Alliance of Women’s Organisations (NAWO) at the Adivasi exhibition ground here on Friday, the Governor said the rising violence against women is shameful and time has come to stand united to curb this trend of grave concern.
“We have to ensure safety of women by exemplary punishment to the criminals. Feeling alone makes a women feel helpless. She needs the support of her countrymen,” he said. Any form of violence against women is an inhuman act, and for that all in the society are responsible, Bhandare said, adding that what is needed is a change in the mindset of the people.
Yumi Bae of the Unicef observed that strengthening of social norms can solve the plight of women and the society can play an instrumental role in changing the attitude of the boys. One in every three girls under 18 years of age is raped in India. She at the same time lauded the achievements of Indian women in the last 20 years as remarkable.
Social activist Tapasi Praharaj alleged that the Government is shedding crocodile tears and not serious on legislating proper laws to curb the cases of violence against women.Bhandare felicitated 16 persons from different parts of the State for their outstanding contributions to the cause of women.
Earlier 602 women representatives from 26 districts of the State were divided into six groups and parallel workshops on alcoholism and increasing violence against women, Odisha State youth policy, declining sex ratio, challenges for elected women representatives, government schemes, RSBY and NRlM, violence against women with special reference to Criminal law (Amendment) Ordinance and dowry torture.
A memorandum was handed over to the Governor by the State Co-coordinator of NAWO lalita Missal.