By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: All Manipur Muslims (Meitei Pangal) Welfare Association (AMMPWA), an apex body of the Muslims in Manipur, organized a one-day state level educational, health and legal awareness programme on March 17, 2013 at Sora, a remote Muslim village in Thoubal District of Manipur.
The programme, organized in association with National Adult Literacy Mission, National Tobacco Control Programme and Legal Literacy Society, Thoubal, was attended by Chairperson of Manipur State Minorities Commission A. Halim Chowdhury, IAS (Retd.), AR Khan, IAS (Retd.), Former Principal of GP Women’s College Professor Laljan Begum, President of AMMPWA Professor MA Janab Khan.
Giving the key-note address, Md. Akhtar Hussain highlighted some of the activities of AMMPWA. He said that since its formation in October 2, 1993 the Association has been engaging in various welfare activities for the Muslims in the State, like organizing health camps, remedial coaching and educational awareness programmes, felicitation of meritorious Muslim students, etc.
Hussain cited some of the programmes and activities taken by the Association recently, which included organizing a National Seminar on Opportunities and Challenges of Muslims in Manipur in association with Manipur State Minorities Commission on 9 Dec. 2012, giving financial assistance to a child gymnast, Md. Irshad Ali, and submitting a memorandum to Chief Minister O. Ibobi on Feb. 9, 2013 demanding institution of a Passport Seva Kendra at Imphal to assist the Haj pilgrims and others in preparing passports.
Director Prosecution, Government of Manipur, Ng. Tejkumar speaking on the theme, “Drug Abuse and Domestic Violence in Manipuri Society,” highlighted the menace of drug-abuse in the State. He said that the ever increasing instances of drug-abuse by our youths have become a threat to our society. It has also swelled the cases of domestic violence in the State. We have seen the first and second Nupi Lal or women’s agitation against the imperialist forces in 1904 and 1939. Manipur will soon be seeing the third Nupi Lal if the problem of drug-abuse is not curbed in time. This is going to be a war against drug launched by our women-folk to save the men-folk, he added.
Kumar also narrated few heartrending stories from the State where use of intoxicants had led to severe crisis in the families, including a recent instance of a housewife murdering her drunkard husband to free herself from the tortures of the husband.
Kumar further said Muslims, particularly the women-folk, should be made fully aware of the personal laws in order to empower them. He sensitized the public on the various laws and legal services that judiciary is providing for the women. Manipur State Legal Services Authority has been providing legal awareness and legal assistance to the public. Manipur State Legal Services Authority, which works under the National Legal Services Authority, have been organizing legal awareness programmes in various parts of the State creating legal awareness to the general public and providing free legal aid to poor and vulnerable sections of the society. Muslim women who are in need of such legal aid should approach the State Legal Services, Kumar added.
State Nodal Officer of National Tobacco Control Programme Dr. Kamolini talked on the impact of using tobacco products on the health. She discussed the various health complications one gets after using tobacco products. She said cigarette or bidi smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, while chewing tobacco contains more than 3000 chemicals; most of these chemicals are harmful to health. There are more than 60 cancer causing substances in cigarette smoke and more than 30 such substances in smokeless tobacco.
Dr. Kamolini further said studies have shown that use of tobacco products, like cigarette, gutka, khaini, zarda, pan-masala, talab and others which contain nicotine, in the State is very high. We have started Tobacco Control Programme in the State to check the excessive use of tobacco products by the people of the State through awareness on the harmful effects of using tobacco. She further said students should be made aware of the harmful effects of tobacco. Moreover, parents should abstain from using all sorts of tobacco products keeping the future of their children in mind, she added.
Deputy Secretary of Education (S) MA Salam said that education is the only means to bring the Muslims in the State on par with other communities. Muslim parents should endeavor to provide quality education to their children. Parents should monitor the schools in their locality. To this end, parents need to be well aware of the provisions given in the RTE Act.
The educational institutions in Muslim inhabited areas of the State are in shambles. These institutions need proper attention and assistance of the Government, Salam added.
Project Director of Minorities & Other Backward Classes Economic Development Society (MOBEDS) Md. Salauddin Khan informed the gathering on the various schemes taken up by the Department of Minorities and Other Backward Classes & SCs for the welfare and development of the Muslims and other minorities of the State.
A documentary film, which tried to relate the scientific aspects mentioned in the Quran with modern scientific discoveries, titled “Ngashidamak Khangli Achumba Waa” was also screened at the end of the Programme.