Imphal, January 07: The three-day long seminar on the status of Manipuri Muslim women organised by Child Welfare Ashram, Jiribam under the sponsorship of National Commission for Women concluded at the conference hall of Manipur Voluntary Health Association, Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri here yesterday.

Member of Manipur State Women Commission Laljan Begum; Reader of Political Science Department, Lilong Haoreibi College Dr K Kunjamani; Dr Md Kheirudin Shah of Management Department, DM College; social worker Md Riyaz Ahmad Shah and Selection Grade Lecturer of LMS College Md Salatur Rahaman presented papers on the topics of 'Muslim women's educational status in Manipur', ' Muslim women's status in the family and society in Manipur', 'Muslim women's health and economic status in Manipur', ' Issues related to Muslim women's lifestyles and to home and work environment', 'Impact of Muslim religion and Muslim Law to the Muslim women in Manipur' respectively during the three-day long seminar.

Speaking on the educational status of Manipuri Muslim women, Laljan Begum observed that the literary rate of the Muslim women is still every low among all the women of the various communities living in Manipur.

If the literary rate of the Muslim men in rural area is 75 percent, then it is only 41 percent for the Muslim women.

Likewise, if the literary rate of Muslim men in Urban area is 82, then it is only 51 percent for the women.

Preferential treatment given to boys in the Muslim families has also its impact on the education of the Muslim girl, he said, while pointing out that sending girls for higher studies to outside Manipur is still being discouraged among the Muslim families in Manipur.

Another factor for low rate of literary among the Muslim women is lack of Government schools and colleges in the areas inhabited by Muslim, he said, adding that there are only 13 Muslim women who have passed MBBS and among them two of them are working in the Govt hospitals.

There are two Muslim women who have passed BE, three who have cleared Ph D degree and seven who have passed Master degree in Science stream.

Moreover, there are five Muslim women who are working as lecturers in Government colleges in Manipur.

To improve the educational status of Muslim women in Manipur, Laljan Begum also stressed on encouraging Muslim women by way of giving scholarship for further continuation of their studies.

The valedictory function of the seminar was attended by social worker Sitara Begum, president of Child Welfare Ashram H Iboton Singh and secretary of Educated and Self Employed Social Service Assn A Bimolchand as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Comment