Imphal, October 28: It's nothing but true that women need protection to live a secured life in the society.

But what about the teeming population of destitute widows in Manipuri society who have young children to look after with no one to protect them from the evils of the society? In such a situation, how could they even dream of living without any fear?.

Fortunately, many Homes for these destitute women have been set up in different parts of Manipur and EEMA Home at Keikhu Kabui village in Imphal East district is one such centre where destitute women can piece together their shattered life once again and start living with dignity.

Established in February 2005, the Home run by Environment and Economic Management Association, in short EEMA, from which the name of the Home too has been derived, had been providing not just shelter but also new hope to many young widows who are either HIV positive or lost their husband due to drug abuse or are victims of sexual crimes, ethnic conflicts or who have been abandoned by their husbands after joining insurgency movement.

Apart from providing security to these unfortunate women, who can even stay life long, the home has been imparting vocational training, extending counselling facilities and legal awareness on their rights as well as on the issue related to HIV/AIDS.

Talking to The Sangai Express, secretary of EEMA S Radhapiyari informed that 50 destitute women are presently staying at the Home.

Among them, 30 women are HIV positive who have been infected from their husbands, seven are abandoned wives of insurgents while five others are wives of underground activists killed in incidents, two are widows of drug abuse husbands, two victims of rape cases and four of them are victims of Naga-Kuki ethnic clashes, she disclosed.

To make them financially independent, the Home being run as part of the Swadhar Scheme of the Union Ministry of Human Resources and Ministry of Women and Child Development, has been imparting training on income generating activities like embroidery, juice extraction, agarbati making, handicrafts, etc.

After undergoing the necessary training, seven former inmates have left the Home with the confidence and hope of starting their life anew, Radhapiyari said.

Giving a detailed account on the facilities being provided by the Home, Radhapiyari said since problem of HIV/AIDS is a major issue in Manipur, special attention is being given to women inmates who are suffering from the scourge.

Apart from this, children below 12 years of age who have been brought along by their mothers are allowed to stay at the Home and education of these children are being provided, Radhapiyari said, adding that once these children crossed 12 years of age, they are referred to other children homes.

She also acknowledged the contribution made by Pukei (customary law court) of Keikhu Kabui Village, Kabui Women Society and Keikhu Youth Club for the smooth running of the Home since its inception.

Recounting her ordeal, one of the women inmates said after the death of her husband, she had a hard time and used to go to the hills to collect fire woods to feed her two children.

But all her problems have been solved after coming to stay at the Home.

�With the knowledge gain from the vocational training imparted, I can now earn of my own through weaving bags�, she said with happiness radiating on her face.

�We are not involved in marketing of the products.

It is EEMA which does all these�, she added.

Similar Homes for destitute women have also been set up in different parts of Manipur under the Swadhar scheme.

Some of places where such Homes are located include, Pallel Bazar in Chandel District, near Saiton Police Station of Senapati District, Wangbal Mayai Leikai and Kakching Wairi Kakching in Thoubal District.

According to an unofficial source, two such Homes have also been set up in Oinam and Sangaiprou in Imphal West District.

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