Women protection wing formed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A women convention held at the Press Club here on Wednesday gave birth to a district-level women protection wing meant to foster the positive environment that the Court verdict on Soumya murder case (which earned the convict, Govindachami, capital punishment) has created. The convention was organised by All-India Mahila Samskritik Sanghatan (AIMSS) The convention was inaugurated by Dr Prameela Devi, KGMOA state president. Speaking at the function, Shaila K John, state secretary of AIMSS, said that a collective women force, which had come out in protest and raised their voicesin the Soumya murder case, was a positive sign which need to be maintained.  R Parvathy Devi, who spoke on the occasion, said the reason for increasing violations against women ought to be identified. Only if the reason is identified can we prescribe a solution, she said. When a woman is insulted or harassed, it is often women who react and the men keep silent. It is time men come out and redefined the term manhood, she said. "Ours is a society with high women literacy rates, women are employed, they are in politics and engaged in creative outings. But then how come violations against them are increasing? It is because women nurture a kind of fear to the opposite sex which they have been passing down generations and not doing anything to change the situation,'' she said. Speaking on the occasion, Women Jail Welfare officer K Lakshmi said that there are many instances where a women, due to complete ignorance of the legal system, find herself behind bars and in the negative side of the law. "During my work, I have met many women who suffer in prisons due to reasons unknown to them or to save their better-halves,'' she said.  Lakshmi said that the real change must start from homes where a democratic set up is still a distant dream. "Daughters are asked to downplay themselves. It is time they are given the status on par with boys and their talents encouraged. They have to be taught to react and be responsible, which could change a lot of things in society,'' she said.  The convention was also attended by Meera Asok, Maglin Peter and S Mini, among other women activists.