MSCW chief laments state of women

From A Correspondent

Shillong, Dec 11: Theilin Phanbuh, chairperson of Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) lamented the fact that in Meghalaya despite the indigenous people practising the matrilineal system they are still being subjected to many forms of human rights violations.

Phanbuh was speaking at the observation of Intertiol Human Rights Day at Lady Keane College on December 10.

The MSCW chairperson while admitting that there is absence of social ills such as dowry, caste system, untouchability and social inequality as compared to women of other states in the Indian union, yet, incidence of crime against women are regularly seen and reported from different parts of the state.

Phanbuh pointed out that gruesome cases of rape & murder, trafficking of women and girls, high school dropout rate, teege pregncy, sexual and reproductive health are common. She also said that there are high incidence of destitute & single mothers, desertion & divorce, poor representation particularly in public life and decision making at all levels.

The chairperson also said that a large section of the population is handicapped by poverty, illiteracy and ignorance of law; due to this reason large section of people suffer from injustice. “They become victims of their legal rights without any remedies,” she said.

Phanbuh also mentioned that the so called matrilineal system undoubtedly has special privileges and responsibilities for women in their homes. But she pointed out that the system of inheritance prevalent is strictly applicable to ancestral property.

“The system of matriliny does not protect women or her children from the consequences of separation and divorce, as a mother she has a major responsibility to take care of her children. The advantage of Matrilineage is only to protect the children from the possibility of ever being called illegitimate which is a social stigma in patrilineal societies,” Phanduh said. As per the 2011 Census female literacy in Meghalaya is at 71.88% as compared to 62.56% in 2001. The average literacy rate in Meghalaya for urban regions was 91.39% and female literacy stood at 89.4% (Census, 2011). In rural areas of Meghalaya, literacy rate for male and female stood at 72.8% and 69.45% respectively.