More women speaking up against harassment, says NCW Chairperson

KOHIMA — With more women opening up about the issues they face, be it at the workplace or society, cases of crime against women are increasing in India, said National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma on Wednesday.

In the past, women refused to speak up despite facing harassment at various places, but today, police stations are prompt in registering first information reports (FIRs), which is why there is an increase in cases of crime against women, she said while interacting with media persons at the World War II Cemetery in Kohima.

While “there should not be any crime against women or against humanity in general,” it is a positive sign that women are speaking up for themselves and being heard, she said.

She went on to urge women to come out and discuss their issues, pointing out that only when women speak up, people in positions of power begin to address those issues. “Unless you speak, how will the society know what problem you are having?” she asked.

Recounting her visit to Nagaland seven years ago, the NCW chairperson said she witnessed a ‘huge change in the status of women in the northeast,’ compared to the past.

While women in the Northeast were empowered in the past too, they are even more empowered now because of the positive changes around them, she said, adding that today, more women are working in government sectors, running their own businesses and doing wonderful things.

Lauding the people of Nagaland and the northeast, she encouraged them to do more things, including business around the tourism sector which is expanding in the region.

The NCW chairperson also noted that women in India are emerging as change-makers in various fields, taking on roles as entrepreneurs, being in service sectors, owning start-ups or businesses, as CEOs of companies or homemakers.

“Even sitting at home, they are trying to do something new, learn something new, because there’s a societal mindset change and also the environment the central government is giving,” said Sharma.

Referring to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address about women-led empowerment, she maintained that things are beginning to change positively over the years.

Sharma was in Kohima to flag in the second edition of 'Women on Wheels' (WoW) expedition to Assam and Nagaland.