Growing violence against women worries Miao diocese

By Felix Anthony

Miao: A Salesian bishop in northeastern India has expressed concern over the recent increase in violence against women in the region.

“Even though women in the North East India have traditionally enjoyed safer living condition, the recent trend against women in the region is worrying,” Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao told a function on November 25 to mark the ‘International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women.’

The Women Commission of Miao diocese in Arunachal Pradesh organized the event at Miao’s Light of the World School auditorium,

Opening the program, the Salesian prelate stressed the need for making men aware of violence against women.

“We do not fight just violence but we fight evil that includes the alarming number of abortions in our region,” he added.

Sister Rose Abilu, the headmistress of Light of the World School, in her keynote address, drew participants’ attention on the various kinds of violence against women. “North East India has become hotspot for human trafficking which is a cruel form of violence against women and that each of the participants today must pledge not to fall prey in the hands of traffickers,” said the member of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (MSMHC) congregation..

Likro Mossang, the president of Women Association in Miao diocese, told the gathering that proper education and awareness is the right way to fight the violence against women and encouraged them to empower themselves with education.

The secretary for Women Commission in East Arunachal Pradesh, Sister Mary Sarkar, too spoke on the occasion.

A small event like this today is not going to end the violence against women all over the world but it will go a long way in spreading awareness among the participants especially the young students, said a woman leader from Miao, Marina Wangsu, at her concluding remark.