Shillong, Nov 13: The Meghalaya Assembly’s committee on Women Empowerment will take up the recent brutal attack perpetrated allegedly by coal mafias on social activist, Agnes Kharshiing and her aide, Amita Sangma in East Jaiñtia Hills district.
Except Lyngdoh as chairperson, the Committee however did not have other women legislators like Dikkanchi D. Shira and Miani D. Shira as members.

But other members of the Committee are also male MLAs which include, H.M. Shangpliang, Benedic R. Marak, Pongseng R. Marak, Rupert Momin, Rakkam A. Sangma, Mayralborn Syiem, Lazarus Sangma and Pius Marweiñ.

The Assembly’s Committee on Empowerment of Women is mandated to examine measures taken by the government to secure equality, status and dignity for women in all matters.

It was at Sohshrieh in East Jaiñtia Hills district that Agnes and Amita were attacked at on November 8, while returning from Lad Rymbai to Shillong after lodging a complaint against illegal mining and transportation of coal.

The Committee will meet at the conference hall of MLAs’ Hostel in Shillong on November 15.

Lyngdoh, the woman legislator from East Shillong, said that the Committee would also raise issues related to the implementation of the Chief Minister’s Social Assistance Programme and seek its status as well as issues related to maternity and child care in the state.

In 2012, the Chief Minister’s Social Assistance Programme for Persons with Disabilities, single mothers, as well as the Chief Minister’s Wedding Assistance Scheme for orphan girls was launched by former Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma.

“On the premise of its most fundamental terms of reference, the Committee will inquire into the public lynching of activist, Agnes Kharshiing and her aide, Amita Sangma on November 8. The Committee will seek clarity from police on steps taken by the department to uncover the perpetrators of such a heinous act that has left an unimaginable fear in minds of not just women but citizens in general across the state and country as well as seek a status report of the investigation from the department,’ Lyngdoh said.

Stating that the Assembly Committee is duty-bound to ensure that justice is delivered to the victims who are presently languishing in hospital and fighting for their lives, Lyngdoh also talked about women empowerment in the state which according to her, should not be treated as a “special tag for the fairer gender.”

“It is a fact that women are challenged in all spheres – at place of work, politics, religious forums, social platforms, family and state decision taking and so on. Women empowerment is necessary and crucial to ensure that our opinions, voices and thoughts are heard, circulated and taken into consideration for a balanced execution of governance. Women rights continue to suffer across the board, and as Chairpersons of this Committee, I will spearhead all necessary attention towards atrocities and crimes against women in our state,” Lyngdoh said.