Agnes Kharshiing

Agnes Kharshiing is a women's rights activist in Northeast India. She is the President of the Civil Society Women's Organization (CSWO).[1]

Agnes Kharshiing
Born
Shillong
NationalityIndian
Known forActivism
Parent(s)Martin Narayan Majaw, Edith Kharshiing
RelativesJohn Filmore Kharshiing

Her outspoken advocacy and leadership of protests for women's and communities' rights has been linked to her detainment.[2][3][4][5]

She has led sit-ins in protest against government evictions of local communities from land. She has spoken out against corporal punishment and bullying in schools. She condemned the appointment of MLA Julius Dorphang, who allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl, as a member of the Assembly Privilege Committee in Meghalaya.[6][7][2][4]

She was arrested then released in March 2013 for use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty, as well as criminal trespass. She told reporters that as member of a committee on justice, formed as part of Meghalaya Legal Service Authority, she was trying to help the parents of a rape victim access a media centre.[8] She protested against the eviction drive conducted by Meghalaya Urban Development Authority, for which she was arrested on 9 November 2013.[9]

She was involved in exposing graft and lack of transparency in child nutrition programs. She advocated for programs supporting local food rather than use of contractors. She organised a rescue mission to Radhamadhab Road - a red light area in Silchar, Assam - to deter the alarming growth in child sex trafficking. Prior to this, she had been interacting with a 16 year old survivor who had escaped from Radhamadhab Road.[10][11]

Fellow activist Angela Rangad said Kharshiing's 2013 arrests were attempts "to suppress any attempt of asking questions and bringing to light largescale illegal deals and land grabs."[12]

Kharshiing has not been deterred from activism by detention. She said: “I will continue to fight with them for their rights and will not retreat even if I have to face arrest a thousand times”[2]

References
  1. "Agnes Kharshiing arrested". Meghalaya Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  2. "Kharshiing out on bail". The Telegraph Calcutta. 3 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013.
  3. "INDIA: Human rights defender Ms Agnes Kharshiing released; struggle for land rights of indigenous people continues". Asian Human Rights Commission. 20 November 2013.
  4. "Bail refused to Meghalaya woman activist fighting eviction". Business Standard. 12 November 2013.
  5. "Hearing on damages suit - Govt seeks compensation from pressure groups". The Telegraph Calcutta. 16 November 2013. Archived from the original on 9 December 2013.
  6. "Meghalaya women's groups fume as MLA held for rape made Privilege Committee member". The Indian Express. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  7. "Meghalaya: Student alleged to have been brutally punished in a school in Shillong". The North East Today. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  8. "Agnes arrested, released". The Shillong Times. 27 March 2013.
  9. "Free Human Rights Defender Ms Agnes Kharshiing! - A Letter to the Chief Secretary of Government Of Meghalaya, India". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  10. "The Price Of Life: The trafficked children of the red-light area in Silchar". 3 July 2017.
  11. "Study reveals graft in child nutrition scheme". The Telegraph Calcutta. 9 December 2012. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013.
  12. "Protests over Kharshiing arrest". The Telegraph Calcutta. 9 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013.


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