The Indigenous Women and Children Foundation Tamenglong on Friday organised a one-day panel discussion on gender equality at their office conference hall at Pansy Vale Apollo Tamenglong by setting a goal to ensure just social order in the society.
Christian Heritage Institute chairman Kaningai Riamei, Rongmei Baptist Churches Council Tamenglong zone women director Gaihiamliu Panmei, Chairmen and Secretaries Association Tamenglong chairman Makiujeiyang Gangmei, Zeliangrong Baptist Church Associate Pastor Reverend Johnkim Pamei and Tamenglong district BAR association general secretary advocate Kalangaipou Riamei attended as panellists for discussion on gender equality.
Riamei spoke on general understanding of gender equality. He mentioned that gender equality is to understand, accept and equally value the differences between the male and female genders, thereby providing equal rights and opportunity to both. He also pointed out some of the challenges prevailing in the society, including education preference given to male or job/ economic imbalances.
In Tamenglong, the daily wage of a female is less than that of a male, he said. In politics, Manipur has a higher number of women's voters than men, but women’s participation is discouraged in all important levels, including representation and decision making, he added.
Women are not included in decision making in institutions like 'Thoubei Pei' or village authority, he further said, adding, gender biases arise from the family and even before the birth of a child.
Gender bias and favouritism of one gender in family and society is a huge factor contributing to gender inequality, he added.
He opined that the gender inequality problem can be solved when a child is given education not only textbook learning but also humanism at school. He also said that gender-biassed problems can be solved when parents in the family stop differentiating the work allotment to the family members.
Rongmei Baptist Churches Council Tamenglong zone women director Gaihiamliu Panmei spoke on women’s perspective on gender equality. Chairman and secretaries association Tamenglong chairman Makiujeiyang Gangmei spoke on traditional perspective on gender equality.
Zeliangrong Baptist Church associate pastor reverend Johnkim Pamei spoke on biblical perspective on gender equality.
Tamenglong district BAR association general secretary Advocate Kalangaipou Riamei spoke about the legal perspective on gender equality.
At least 56 people from different organisation, including members of One-Stop Centre Tamenglong, United Women's Organisation Tamenglong, Tamenglong village students federation Chairmen and Secretaries Association Tamenglong, individuals attended the programme.
