By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 25: “Discrimination against women is a social malaise. But women are not responsible for it,” said Anju Borkotoki, president of the All Assam Progressive Women’s Association. She was speaking at a convention of women organizations held in Guwahati today. Borkotoki called upon women to fight for their rights and added that women should raise their voice against all forms of atrocities on them. She also denounced the atrocities committed on women during the violence in the Bodo Territorial Areas District (BTAD).  Borkotoki said that the State Government must provide adequate medical facilities and essential commodities to the women displaced in the recent ethnic clashes. She also appealed to the people to abstain from further escalating the tension. She voiced her strong protest against repetition of any gory acts against women.  “Job security for ASHA and anganwadi members should be guaranteed by the State Govornment,” she added. She strongly condemned the television channels for repeatedly airing incidents that tarnished a woman’s image for gaining TRPs and also for commercialization of a woman’s body in advertisements.  Borkotoki slammed the Assam State Commission for Women for their apathy towards issues that concern women. She also demanded that the State Government should provide 50 per cent reservation for women in the panchayats and autonomous councils and 33 per cent in the State Assembly. Welcoming the Gauhati High Court’s move to ban wine shops within the radius of 500 meters of residential and educational institutions in the city, she said that the court should uphold this ban. Around 17 women organizations took part in today’s convention.