Need to address issues and take preventive steps.
Kochi: Deploring the growing atrocities on women and children in the state, several women’s groups, lawyers and social activists on Saturday urged the state government to take immediate steps to constitute Mahila Sabhas at the panchayat level to address the issue and take preventive steps.
Participating in a seminar on the subject organised by the Cultural Academy for Peace, they noted that although the ministry of panchayati raj had supported the constitution of Mahila Sabhas at the panchayat level to focus on female foeticide and the social impact of the falling ratio of girl children, there was no progress on this as yet.
Many activists were also concerned at the delay in passing of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. Noting that the ministry of panchayati raj had in a letter dated October 30, 2013 ordered the constitution of Mahila Sabhas to address issues concerning women and children, Tany Thomas, district mission co-coordinator, Kudambasree regretted that they were still not a reality.
Others present underlined that Mahila Sabhas were necessary to deal with social evils like dowry, domestic violence, substance abuse, female foeticide and trafficking of women and children more effectively.
Sandhya Raju, director of Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) spoke on the role and functioning of Bala Sabhas, Jyothi Narayanan of Sthreevedi said it was important for the Lok Sabha to immediately pass the Women’s Reservation Bill.
