Port Blair, June 13: The first meeting of the Andaman and Nicobar State Organising Committee of the All India Democratic Women’s Association was held at Shaheed Bhavan, Anarkali, Port Blair on 11.06.2022 under the chairmanship of C. Anandi, Convener. The meeting discussed various issues relating to women in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The meeting noted that atrocities on women are increasing in the islands and women are put to unnecessary harassment and exploitation. The meeting observed that authorities are not attending to the grievance and problems of women in the islands. The meeting noted that there is no forum available in the islands to redress the grievances of women. The meeting further observed that there is an urgent need to establish a full-fledged Women’s Commission in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The meeting, therefore, adopted a resolution urging the Govt. of India and A & N Administration to set up a full-fledged Andaman & Nicobar Women’s Commission to take care of the welfare and grievances of women in the islands. The meeting noted that there are a number of men including government servants in the islands who have deserted their spouses and even do not pay maintenance to them despite court orders.
The meeting noted that the Administration is not taking seriously the grievances and complaints of such women. The meeting through a resolution urged the A & N Administration to issue necessary instructions to all Heads of Departments to bestow immediate attention to the grievances and complaints of women whose husbands are working under them and redress their grievances.
Through another resolution, the AIDWA State Organising Committee urged the Govt. of India and A & N Administration to re-constitute the Andaman & Nicobar State Social Welfare Advisory Board immediately.
The tenure of the Board was over three years ago but no action has been taken by the authorities to reconstitute the Board. Through another resolution, the AIDWA State Organising Committee has urged upon the authorities in the Administration to take effective steps to contain the soaring prices of essential commodities in the islands. The meeting condemned the frequent price rise of petrol, diesel and LPG which adversely affect more on the women. C. Anandi, Sandhya S. Saju, Chithra, G. Lalitha and J. Tulsi participated in the discussion. D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee and B. Chandrachoodan, State Secretariat Member addressed the meeting.