Manipur News

New Delhi, Sep 23 (ANI): Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Monday said no country can progress unless they treat their women with respect.
Addressing the 16th Meeting of the National Integration Council here, Shinde said: “The first relates to the safety and security of women. As you all know, women not only constitute fifty percent of our population and have an equal role to play in the development of this country, but they also remain the main foundation of an egalitarian and dignified society. No country can progress unless they treat their women with respect.”
“Unfortunately, we continue to read about heinous crimes committed on our women. The statistics on crimes against women reveal an increasing trend in the last three years. The brutal rape and attack on a young girl in Delhi last year shocked the conscience of the nation,” he added.
Asserting that the Government of India took a major initiative to amend the criminal law to make the punishment for such offences more stringent, Shinde said: “The judiciary also took steps to fast track the prosecution of the criminals and the judgment in the matter was pronounced recently. We hope that this example will serve as a deterrent.”
“Nevertheless, we need to discuss what further action needs to be taken by the society so that we can deal with the root cause of discrimination and denigration of women. We will also need to change the attitude of the society. As more and more opportunities are seized by the young women of this country for their economic and social development in our growing economy, we will have to ensure that this does not lead to friction in the society,” he added.
Speaking on the issue of the continued discrimination against SC/STs in the country, Shinde said: “The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India have been subjected to indignity, marginalization and neglect through ages. In spite of affirmative action provided for in the Constitution, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes have still not been integrated fully into the society. On the other hand, they continue to be subjected to atrocities.”
“In the last three years, the statistics on the subject reveal an increasing trend in cases of atrocities committed against these classes. There is an attitude of indifference in even prosecuting the cases that have been registered under the stringent Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,” he said.
“The disturbing fact is that the rate of conviction in these cases is very poor. Various pretexts are taken recourse to and justice denied. Unless those committing the atrocities are punished, there will be no deterrence for the people who perpetrate such crimes. This forum may like to discuss the hurdles that still act as barriers for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes to catch up with the rest of the society, live in a dignified manner and become equal partners in national development,” he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/no-country-can-progress-until-it-treats-women-respectfully-shinde/

AIZAWL, Sept 22 NNN: A new political party has been floated called Zoramthar Duhtute (Beiseina Thar) even as Mizoram is set to go to assembly elerctions in two months’ time.Zoramthar
But leaders of this outfit do not want to call their group as ‘political party’. They said they are a group of people under the style and banner of Zoramthar Duhtute (Beiseina Thar) to save Mizoram.
Beiseina Thar said it has come up with a clear-cut plan to do away with the prevailing party politics by way of contesting in the assembly elections and thereby form a government that will be for the people.
They will put their best efforts to replace the political parties in the State that have ruled so far, accusing the latter as ruling along party line and individual preferences rather than for the larger public interest.
The interest group in the name of Zoramthar Duhtute (Beiseina Thar) Pawl has announced that they will contest in the upcoming Mizoram MLA election and would take every possible step to form a government that would belong to the people.
Chairman of Zoramthar Duhtute Pawl, SL Sailova, IAS (rtd) said, “What has been witnessed in the past 40 years is governance marked by preference to one’s kith and kins and members of political parties only. People got very little of their shares, and political parties are only thinking of how to win in the elections, nothing else. Because of this, we have come up.”
Gen Secy of Zoramthar Duhtute Pawl, Dr. Zodinpuia Pachuau also said, “We know very well that there is no hope with the governments we have had so far, and if we continue to have the same kind of government, we don’t believe that a good government will be formed. To fulfill the desire of the common people to have a good government, ‘Zoramthar Duhtute’ has been formed.” It is our main objective to let the people get their proper shares, to make them strong, and to save them from their miserable condition, Dr. Zodinpuia added.
In reply to media query as to whether they plan to form a new Political party, Dr. Zodinpuia said “We don’t have a plan to form a new Party. But our way of functioning will be like that of a party, and we shall also have candidates.”
Zoramthar Duhtute Pawl leaders also said that the Election Commission of India can accept the group as ‘unregistered party’, adding “We have not yet decided how many candidates we shall have in the forthcoming election. However, we expect to have at least 5 candidates so that we would be able to use ‘common symbol’.”
“We can come to agreement with anyone whether it is a political party or others, if they could agree with our objectives and principles” they added.
Sailova said, “Had the range of salary of the government servants lowered, and corruption detested, I don’t believe the State will experience such a severe financial crisis like the present.”
Informing that they will invite good individuals for their Candidates, SL Sailova added “if we don’t find one (like our want) we may just contest daring to lose”. He further added that their candidate will all sign oath of affirmation, and will be expected to give up if they don’t want to do their duty well.
SL Sailova, IAS (rtd) as chairman of the outfit, Lalngheta Sailo, IPS (rtd) as Vice Chairman, Zodinpuia Pachuau as General Secretary, Dr. Lalnunthara as Treasurer, Dr. Chawnglungmuana as Secretary and other members.
As announced by them, Zoramthar Duhtute Pawl is determined to fight for a new peoples’ government in the forthcoming 2013 Mizoram Legislative Assembly (MLA) elections. Leaders of the group also explained that they come to the fore with their common interests to form peoples’ government, not a party government.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/new-political-outfit-floated-in-mizoram/