IMPHAL, May 28 - Different types of addictions among men give rise to domestic violence and increasing number of such cases may be resolved if Manipur has at least one family court per district.
This observation and recommendation was given by Drishti Stree Adhyayan Prabodhan Kendra, a Pune-based Women Studies and Training Centre, in their 56-page survey report on Socio-economic status of women in Manipur.
Over 70.7 per cent of men are hooked to tobacco or otherwise while 52.6 per cent of men are alcoholic which is higher than indicated in latest National Family Health survey.
The survey report released by Manipur Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister Nemcha Kipgen in a function at Manipur University recently, also observed that there is only one family court in the State.
�We feel that each district should have at least one family court,� said the recommendation of the survey report. �Women of Manipur are aware of the problems they are facing and they also have organisations like Meira Paibi which are actively trying to resolve them. But we observed women tend not to approach police or the legal authorities.�
Regarding the tribals acquiring or purchasing land or property in the valley area whereas valley people cannot deal with property in hill areas, the report observed that this has been an important point of contention between Meitei and tribal people of Manipur which has to be resolved with the help of law.
Stating that legally on papers, women/daughters of Manipur have right to their family�s property but in reality this never happens, the report said that Manipur has high number of single women in comparison to other States of India and legal provision may help them and make their life little easier.
According to United Nations office on drugs and crime under its regional initiative prevention of transmission of HIV amongst drug users in SAARC countries, Manipur (28.2 per cent) has the highest number of women drug users among all NE States. Manipur is followed by Mizoram (17.4 per cent), Nagaland (14.4), Meghalaya (12.1), Assam (12.2), Sikkim (9.8) and Tripura (NA).
On employment and economic status, the report observed that two main industries in NE States are weaving and making bamboo products. NE alone has 65 per cent of the handlooms of the entire nation. Assam is on top and Manipur holds the second rank.
However, Manipur is one of four States in the country where more than 35 per cent of the people are below the poverty line.
Regarding the drop-outs rates, till class X standard, 18 per cent of the students drop out of schools in Manipur. In both general and SC, dropout rate for girls is less than that of boys.
