In answer to a query on the situation of women and children in the violent state, Smriti Irani, the minister of women and child development, said that three centrally supported women’s programs were being undertaken in Manipur. According to the minister, these three programs focus on the nutritional needs, security, safety, and welfare of women and children in the nation.
The three programs are Mission Shakti for safety, protection, and women’s empowerment; Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 for improving nutrition indicators; and Mission Vatsalya for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
The revelation follows the Manipur video case, in which two tribal women were reportedly sexually abused on May 4, the day after ethnic riots erupted in the northeastern state. In the video case, two tribal women were displayed nude and were brutally attacked. The Narendra Modi-led federal administration is the target of an opposition no-confidence resolution, which will be discussed next week.
Irani highlighted the situation in Manipur and said that 11,509 anganwadis are in operation in the state under the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 programmes, offering assistance to expectant mothers, nursing mothers, and children under the age of six. In addition to nutrition and health education, services offered include supplemental nutrition, immunizations, health examinations, preschool, and non-formal education.
According to the government of Manipur, it connects expectant and nursing women with shakti sadan houses and the integrated child development program to provide them with secure and clean housing… The state administration has released guidelines for establishing and running relief camps. In addition, the minister said, “The shakti sadan team under Mission Shakti is also providing nutritional necessities in addition to shelter to pregnant women and to women in distress.
The ministry said that as part of Mission Shakti, Manipur now has 15 sakhi niwas (working women’s hostels), 45 shakti sadans (integrated relief and rehabilitation homes for women), and 16 one-stop centers (OSCs).
The ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ is a special non-lapsable fund that was established by the Indian government. A total of 42 projects, including the emergency response support system, the central victim compensation fund, the central forensic science lab, the installation of CCTV cameras at train stations and bus stops, the Nirbhaya shelter home, and the prevention of cybercrime against women and children, have been made known in all states and UTs, including Manipur, according to the response.
The Child Protection Scheme (CPS) has been improved under Mission Vatsalya, according to the Centre, for greater outreach to vulnerable children and their protection as well as their care, assistance, and nourishment. In Manipur, 86 childcare facilities are operating under the program.
The minister said that the Manipur government has taken a number of measures to safeguard women and children in the conflict-affected state.
The state government offers the following services to women and children:
Counselors at one-stop centers and other support services provided to women via shakti sadans provide psychosocial help.
providing counseling to children via staff members of child care centers (CCCs), who are supervised by district child protection units (DCPUs).
Women and children have been receiving counseling services from the Manipur State Health Mission.
Women in need have access to assistance via the hotline 181.
In addition, the state has established a complaints hotline for camp residents to use, the IVRS toll-free number 1800 309 0931.
Numerous people have lost their homes and families as a consequence of the violence in Manipur, which has been going on for the last three months. To locate children who have been separated from their families and subsequently reconnect them, the state government has sent representatives.
