khandu women
Image: Northeast Now

The Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW) headed by its chairperson Radhilu Chai Techi called on chief minister Pema Khandu at his office in Itanagar on Thursday.

Congratulating Khandu on his return to the chair of chief minister, the Commission members expressed hope that women-sensitive issues and welfare measures would see a quantum jump under his leadership.

Discussing on various issues related to women in the state, the Commission reiterated the necessity to make registration of marriages compulsory under law.

The chairperson said that hundreds of cases come to the Commission only related to marriages. She said due to lack of any registration, husband-wife disputes remain unresolved or partially resolved. She urged the government to come up with a feasible act under which all marriages are registered.

The Commission also expressed grave concern over the menace of drug-addiction amongst the youths of the state. It requested the chief minister to keep provisions in the budget for establishment of drug rehabilitation centers and juvenile observation homes with proper facilities and manpower in the state.

“The upcoming generation needs attention and care from the state government or else drug addiction would wipe them out,” the members observed.

Further, the Commission requested the chief minister to consider the long-pending demand of the womenfolk for reservation in jobs and assembly, which if materializes they said would be one of the greatest achievements of his tenure.

Pointing that most issues of women would be resolved if they are made financially independent, the members suggested special loan provisions for women willing to take up small businesses.

“Because they are economically dependent on their male counterparts, women are subjected to various injustices,” they observed.

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: [email protected]