Crime against women on rise in Mizoram

 Increasing violence against women in the Christian dominated state of Mizoram has become a cause of great concern. State Law Minister Lalsawta felt that Mizo society has become "too liberal" ands this could be one of the reasons behind the disturbing increase in crimes against the fairer sex. Mr Lalsawta was speaking at a function at Chanmari YMA Hall here today to observe the International Women Day, jointly organised by Mizoram state legal services authority and AIKO, an NGO working for the rights of women. "This is a matter of great concern for the right-thinking citizens. It is high time that the churches, NGOs and the government work together to stop this social menace," he said. Blaming lack of legal awareness as another reason for increase in violence against women, the law minister also stressed the need for legal awareness campaign.

"Each and every citizen should be made aware that there are magistrates, courts and police to help them from troubles," he said. Mizoram state legal services authority's member secretary Marli Vankung, the basic objective of observing the women's day was to create awareness on laws and women's rights. \ She said there were plans to conduct legal awareness in schools and to set up legal aid clinics. Resource persons delivered lectures on crime against women and domestic violence. According to official records, there are 168 incidents of crime against women like rape, attempt to rape, molestation, women trafficking during the year 2011 while 19 cases have already been registered this year. Since 2008 to October last year, the Mizoram police had registered 303 rape cases while about 105 suicide cases in 2011 alone. However, social workers believed the number could be much higher since majority of the incidents had not been reported. Data collected by the National Family Health Survey in 2005-6 said an average 22 per cent of wives in Mizoram suffered at the hands of their husbands, while the national average was 37 per cent.