NCW for effective steps to curb crimes against women

Itanagar, Jun 8:

(

) chairperson Mamta Sharma has called for a change in the mindset of the society besides proper implementation of laws and a strong monitoring mechanism to curb

.

Addressing the participants during a day-long legal awareness programme on crime against women in Lower Subansiri district yesterday, Sharma exhorted women to come forward and report any crime or violence against them, an official communique said on Sunday.

"Until you report, no actions can be taken against the offenders. It will encourage them and the crime rate against women will increase rather than decrease," she said adding that police also needs to be sensitized on matters where women as victims are to be questioned.

She also expressed concern over the prevalence of child marriage and domestic violence in some parts of the state and advised NGOs working in those areas to address these issues.

Though the plot allotted to the project is barren, 'Kudumbashree' plans to convert it into a complete 'green' village with eco-friendly houses, biogas plants and vegetable orchards.

The engineers of Kudumbashree Construction will also bake eco-friendly bricks, using soil of the place for construction. Each house will have kitchen and terrace gardens. One biogas plant each will be set up for a unit of 10 houses.

Anganwadies and trading shops to market and sell agricultural and other products made by tribals are also on cards. A number of agencies including COSTFORD, a non-profit making voluntary organisation specialising in cost-effective architecture, the state Scheduled Tribes Development Department and Agricultural Department have offered support to the venture.

Valsala Kumari said the tribals to be rehabilitated in the village would be shifted to the site during the time of construction and their suggestions would be sought.

"We expect the project to generate further ideas. It is not just Kudumbashree's entry into the construction sector, but also an effort to create a complete ambience for environment-friendly life," she said.

Kudumbashree is the poverty alleviation programme of the Kerala government, launched in 1998. It was conceptualised as a movement to eradicate poverty through empowering women and community action under Local Self Governments.

The programme has over 37 lakh members and covers more than 50 per cent of households in Kerala.

PTI