ITANAGAR, Mar 4: The Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society (APWWS) met Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein here on Sunday for a pre-budget discussion as well as regarding the safety and security of children and women in Arunachal Pradesh
Responding to the points suggested by the society, the deputy chief minister said that his department will consider the relevant suggestions for inclusion in the budget as well as place it before the cabinet for consideration.
Mein further said that in view of the growing violence on women and children, the cases will have to be fast-tracked and that the forensic lab in Banderdewa will be activated.
Speaking on poppy cultivation, he said that the government is promoting alternative crops for poppy growers, and therefore, the farmers should make use of it.
Chief Secretary Satya Gopal called on the APWWS for awareness programmes on work culture among government employees, which he said is wanting in the state.
President of the APWWS, Dipti Bengia Tadar called on the government to involve women in major policy decisions of the state. She further said that many of the government schemes do not reach the targeted group.
APWWS secretary general, Kani Nada Maling stressed on the gender and child budgeting in the state as she presented the 18-point suggestions.
Earlier, the society submitted a memorandum to the government regarding the safety and security of children and women in Arunachal Pradesh, where it cited the Gender Vulnerability Index (GVI) released by the Ministry of Women and Child Development on November 2017, where Arunachal was placed at 26 out of the 30 Indian states.
The memorandum also included establishment of gender budgeting cell in the state level, 50 per cent reservation for women in PRIs and urban local bodies at all levels, adequate budget for the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW), independent Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, establishment of juvenile homes and special training for police personnel, especially to handle child cases, compulsory moral and sex education in schools from primary to middle school, early establishment of family courts, proper implementation of compulsory marriage registration Act in the state of Arunachal Pradesh and fast tracking of all sexual assault cases.
The meeting was also attended by Development Commissioner Ashish Kundra, Secretary to Chief Minister Sonam Chombay, OSD to DCM Abu Tangu, former chairpersons of the APSCW Jarjum Ete and Gumri Ringu, APWWS vice president Tojum Potom and APWWS registrar Yapi Maling.
Meanwhile, the APWWS has lauded the state government for seeking inputs from the citizens for inclusion in the budget. The organisation thanked Chief Minister Pema Khandu for facilitating the meeting with the DCM and the state administration regarding the budget as well as safety and security of women and children in the state.
