CHIVALRY VERSUS EGO MEGHALAYA

Meghalaya State Women’s Commission (MSWC) wants men in uniform to be more “respectful and chivalrous,” but refuses to be flexible in seeking support of women’s group within the armed force to fight crime together.

“No we would not seek support of the Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA). They should come to us,” MSWC chairperson, Susana K Marak asserted today.


The commission said summons to men in uniform (state and central) from the commission are not respected. To emphasis the point, Marak showed a summon reply of the Army to the Commission written on a “used paper.”

“This is insulting…we want respect…The men in uniform must show certain level of chivalry,” Marak asserted.

MSWC, constituted in 2004, has been fighting for the rights of women in the state. Marak said cases against personnel from the Border Security Force, Air Force, Army, Central Reserve Police Force and the state police have been reported with the commission.

“The men in uniform are rude and don’t respect our summons. They threaten to approach the Supreme Court once they are here in the commission,” Tshering Yangi another member said.

Asked if the commission sought the support of the wives’ association in the armed force, she answered in the negative and further reiterated: “we are a statutory body they (wives’ association in the armed forces) must come to us.”

However, in this battle of ego, victims of crime are being made the scapegoat. There have been 34 cases reported, including rape and murder, of women by men from the armed force during the past three years.


The Wives’ associations within the armed force (central and state) have limited mandate and powers although such cases are first reported to these welfare associations. The SWC by not trying to associate voluntarily with these groups is only weakening the cause of women’s right within the armed forces, observers say.

Meanwhile, the SWC wants some of the present laws to be amended to give more teeth to the commission. It is also demanding financial increment from the government.