NPP MDC asks KHADC to step up efforts against crimes on Women, form women’s cell

Shillong, June 25: Expressing concern over the rising crimes against women, NPP MDC from Nongshken Grace Mary Kharpuri on Wednesday urged the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to find out ways and means to eradicate crimes against women in the state.

Kharpuri, while moving a motion during the council’s summer session, referred to the recent incident at Nongrah, where a woman was murdered by her husband and expressed disappointment that despite existence of different laws, yet there is no solution to prevent such crimes.

“We already have several Acts in place but still we cannot do anything and still we have no permanent solution to stop such crimes committed against women,” she said. “Therefore, I feel that it is high time for the KHADC to also find out ways and means to eradicate crimes against women. The council can also come up with a women cell to extend support to victims of such crimes,” the MDC asserted.

Emphasizing the importance of awareness, Kharpuri said there is need for the council to work together with the different stakeholders for creating awareness through the schools, dorbar shnong, churches. She also stressed the important role played by parents in nurturing their children.

“So, the KHADC can organize such awareness programmes to sensitize and especially encourage women to fight crimes against them,” she added.

Sharing the concerns of the member, Executive Member in-charge Law & Legal matters Deiti Majaw said in fact the present executive committee within a short span of its tenure of three months have formed a committee as mandated by Sexual Harassment Act and set up the ICC on May 20.

According to her, despite a notification issued by the DCA department on this regard, no action was taken by the previous EC.

“The first meeting of the committee was held this month (June). We will continue to meet and we will be giving awareness on crimes against women.”

Stating that KHADC has limited powers, the EM however assured that the EC would take necessary measures to eradicate crimes against women.

“The EC will work with other stakeholders to create awareness to encourage women to come forward and fight for their rights. We will look into issues of domestic violence and other crimes affecting our women.”