Imphal, March 20 2010: A one day district level consultation on Domestic Violence Act was held today at Kyamba Shanglen under the joint aegis of the Women Action for Development (WAD) and New Life Foundation.

Addressing the consultative meet as a presidium member, Bishnupur Additional SP Pishak called upon all concerned to report to police all cases of domestic violence and other crimes committed against women.

Filing complaints to police or law courts promptly would certainly ameliorate cases of domestic violence and harassments committed by husbands and in-laws, Pishak said.

Moreover, women victims of domestic violence can invoke the Women Protection from Domestic Violence Act to get justice.

Creating extensive and intensive awareness among women about the definitions of domestic violence, harassments and the provisions of the Women Protection from Domestic Violence Act would go a long way in realising emancipation of women, the Additional SP asserted.

Bishnupur district Social Welfare Officer L Ibomcha, Bishnupur District Protection Officer Ch Tampakleima, Bishnupur Medical Superintendent Memma Devi, ZEO Bishnupur Memma Devi, Chairperson of Bishnupur Municipal Council Bidyapati Devi and Moulavi Md Islamuddin also attended the consultation as presidium members.

WAD secretary Mangshatabam Subita noted that rate of violence against women and children has been rising every year.

For the current year, there have been around 100 cases so far.

In addition to dowry related cases and failure to bear male child, cellphone related incidents and the problem of insurgency have been contributing to the increased rate of violence against women and children, she said.

Guided by the concept that married women should not live in their parental home, many women victimised by their husbands or in-laws are sent back to their abusive husbands and in-laws even if their brothers and parents are fully aware of the harassment and violence suffered by their sisters and daughters.

Rather than clinging to the age-old concept, parents and brothers should work to rescue their daughters and sisters from domestic violence, Subita exhorted.

The inaugural session of the consultative meet was followed by a panel discussion session.

Field executive of the Centre for Social Development Dr Memchoubi spoke on the topic 'Present Situation of Manipur and Its Impacts to Women and Children'.

Advocate W Lata and Advocate Hemanta spoke about domestic violence and related legal provisions.

The meet also featured a presentation by a widow living with HIV about her ordeal.

The widow now working as a counsellor narrated the pain and suffering she underwent for 14 years starting from the time her husband died.

Expelled from her husband's home, she was not welcomed to her parental home either.

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