Identify violence against women as public health issues

Shillong, Jun 22 (UNI) Various NGO leaders from the North East have urged the government to identify violence against women as a 'public health issue'.

More than ten influential women organisations have expressed concern on rising violence against women, especially in the Northeast.

Monisha Bahal, leader of the North East Network said, it would be prudent on part of the government to identify the menace as a ''public health issue'' and added that this would directly focus on the growing problem and help take pro-active steps to change the unhealthy trend.

Criticising the non-performance of support services for women, Ms Bahal felt that more monitoring mechanism should be put into service for their smooth functioning during the eleventh five-year plan.

She said some of the support services for women like-- Swyamsidha, Swadhar, short-stay homes and others are in a shambles.

Most of these services have not utilised their funds, Ms Bahal rued.

She said Swadhar; a scheme to rehabilitate women in 'difficult circumstances' is not functioning in the right earnest despite the region being in a 'conflict situation,' a large percentage of women are 'suffering from trauma and fear'.

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