Imphal, August 26: �I have depicted incidents from my childhood when I used to hide in fear whenever my father returned home drunk at night and picked up a quarrel with my mother�, said Sudeep (Pseudonym), who participated in a State level painting competition held on the theme of �Violence against women� at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium here today.

The competition was organised under the aegis of Women Action for Development (WAD).

Explaining his painting, Sudeep said �When I was a child, I saw my mother being beaten up by my father whenever he returned home drunk.

I was so frightened that I could do nothing to stop my father.

I used to hide and cry all the time.

Now we are grown up, and my father does not beat my mother any more�.

A student of class VII in Gandhi Memorial English School in Bishnupur district, Sudeep observed that domestic violence against women can be prevented only when people start respecting women, stop the habit of abusing drugs and alcoholism and lead a disciplined life.

Another participant Asha (Pseudonym), who is studying in class VI of St George High School, said she drew inspiration for her painting from instances of violence against women who give birth to only girls.

Coming from a family with three sisters with no brother, Asha said although she had come across various instances of violence against mothers who could not give birth to son on TV, Radio, Newspapers, luckily, her father does not ill-treat her mother inspite of having given birth to three daughters.

Lakhi, a class VII student of Maria Montesorri School, said the picture that she had drawn for the competition depicted the images of atrocities and harassment meted out to a woman by her husband and mother-in-law in her locality for not having brought enough dowry.

Poverty in the family, lack of job opportunities and the habit of abusing liquor are some of the main reasons for committing atrocities against women in the society.

So creating more job opportunities and proper understanding can only stop violence against women in the family, she explained.

Y Tomba (Pseudonym), a student of class VIII in Sabaltongba Modern High School, Thoubal district said, he is pained to see women being subjected to senseless violence and crimes in the family and the society.

In order to stop this �we should have understanding,� he said.

Atul Y (Pseudonym), a class VIII student of Brighter Academy explained that arresting women, beating them up or raping them are just some of the violence committed on women in the society.

On the painting that he had drawn for the competition, Atul said he had depicted scene of security personnel beating up agitating women.

If proper advice and talks cannot restrain the security personnel from committing such crimes against women, they should be punished, he added.

In all 53 students who are in the age group of 8 to 12 years participated in the painting competition.

In connection with organising the painting competition, WADA secretary Sobita Mangsatabam explained that the main motive behind the competition is to spread awareness among the students on the nature of crimes and violence committed on women in the family and the society and encourage them to come out with means of stopping such crimes.

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