Imphal: The Committee on Welfare of Women and Children, Manipur Legislative Assembly under the chairmanship of Ak Mirabai Devi, visited various institutions in Jiribam on April 6-7, 2021. The institutions which the committee visited included centres for mentally challenged girls, open shelter home for boys, children welfare centre, one-stop centre, Anganwadi centres, working women hostel construction etc.
The Committee felt the need for this visit in order to understand the ground reality so that any issues being neglected or failure on the part of concerned authority be properly heard and addressed. During the visit, it was found that in many Anganwadi centres children were not taught in Manipuri languages and the honorarium of workers and helpers were not paid for at least ten months.
Jiribam being a border district inhabited by different communities and also separated by hills from the mainland, special attention and policy of the government are needed.
Bengali Muslim Anganwadi children are taught in Manipuri language also in order to promote emotional integrity with the rest of the state and also to develop a sense of belongingness, Chairperson of the Committee Ak Mirabai Devi, asserted. Language is the medium to promote harmony, peace and emotional integrity, she added.
The other members of the Committee on this visit include MLAs Paonam Brojen Singh, Dr Radheshyam Yumnam, N Indrajit, Fajur Rahim, Commissioner, Director, Social Welfare Department and officials of Assembly Secretariat.
