Participants at the workshop in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Jan. 12: A workshop on effective implementation of women-friendly laws was held at Scada Business Centre today.

Grameen Evam Nagar Vikas Parishad (GENVP) organised the regional workshop. Chief guest at the programme Parveen Amanullah, the social welfare minister of the state, said: “Women have always been facing violence in the society be it domestic or in any other form. The state government is determined to work against such violence. Concrete steps would be taken on individual, social and government levels.”

She said: “The various NGOs working in this field should realise their responsibility in context of women-friendly laws and then they will have to sensitise the society.” Amanullah also asked for the analysis report of the workshop.

The chairperson of Child Protection and Women Empowerment Committee of Bihar legislative council, Kiran Ghai spoke on the status of women-friendly laws at the event. She chaired the technical session.

Ghai said: “Women-friendly laws can be effective only when they are implemented. In order to stop exploitation of women, it is important to implement the laws.”

She added: “Certain things like whether the officers involved in implementation of the law are trained or not and the funds allocated are being properly utilised are some of the factors that play key roles.”

Ghai emphasised that changes would only come if there is a general feeling that exploitation of women should be stopped immediately.

Ram Kishor Prasad Singh, general secretary of Grameen Evam Nagar Vikas Parishad, and Renji George Joseph, board member Asian Representative, were present at the programme.

Rupesh Kumar, the project manager of women development corporation, spoke on the act for protection of women from domestic violence.

Kumar said: “October 26, 2006 was an historical day for women since it was on this day that The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 was implemented.”