Dimapur, December 10 (MExN): Though violence against women is a rampant happening in Nagaland, the turn out at the rally – “Fortnight observation of elimination of violence against women” organized by Naga Women Hoho today at City Tower in Dimapur was not up to the mark. However, the purpose of the rally did not go in vain since passersby with curiosity were listening to the speeches given by different dignitaries.
Interestingly even today the ‘dress code’ topic was brought about. President of Dimapur District GB Association while speaking about equality of men and women also pointed out that women should be careful in what she wears as it may invite trouble. He said a drunkard man might get tempted to commit sexual offence if a woman is wearing skimpy clothes.
However, later when the joint secretary of NWHD Esther Rio was extending her gratitude to the speakers, sponsors, members etc, replied back to the President’s statement and said men go about the street in their “underwears” but women do not look down at men, so women have “101% right (sic)” to wear anything.
Earlier, the President of Naga Women’s Hoho Hukheli T Wotsa called upon the gathering to give serious attention to rise in crimes against women. “…we call for your valuable wisdom to curb the menace that threatens our Naga society.”
Hukheli pointed out that in Nagaland alcohol consumption contributes to rise in violence against women. She also said that women are victims of not only physical abuse but verbal abuse too. “Verbal abuse is worse than physical abuse (sic).” verbal abuse inflicts mental torture, she added.
She further said that women are now learning about their rights but men ignore that and continue to mistreat women, for which men and women need to change their mindsets.
On the representations given to the government, she said: “Every time rape and murder is committed in our society, it is women who are shouting in the street and submitting memorandums to the government. We have been carried out with the best effort of our women but the response has not been encouraging. We need to reach out to every man from young to old before it’s too late, especially to youngsters who need to learn before they get married.”
Also, ADC of Medziphema Angelina Tajen emphasized on domestic violence. She said most of the women are suffering silently without reporting to police and some are mute spectators to such events.
To curb violence against women, Angelina asserted that organizations need to educate people especially in the rural areas. “We need to be assertive and not aggressive in finding strategies to eliminate violence against women.”
The vice president of Naga Council Dimapur Bangerloba Ao, who also spoke at the meet, said inferiority complex contributes to discrimination of women and women folk need to remove that.
