Members of Girls Proutists, Tripura State Unit, on Monday submitted an 11-point memorandum to the West Tripura District Magistrate, urging a series of measures to strengthen women’s rights, safety and socio-economic empowerment, including a ban on obscene and sexually explicit portrayals of women in the media.

The memorandum was submitted as part of programmes organised to mark International Women’s Day, representatives of the organisation said.

In the memorandum, the group expressed concern that discrimination and violence against women continue to persist despite the presence of various legal safeguards at both the state and national levels.

The organisation noted that women have historically contributed equally to social development and continue to play a vital role in fields such as education, science, politics and the economy. However, it pointed out that serious issues including child marriage, dowry practices and crimes against women—particularly rape—remain widespread concerns.

Among its key demands, the organisation called for the elimination of gender discrimination across all sectors, including education and employment, and urged that women be granted equal rights and status in society.

The group also advocated for completely free education for girls from the nursery level up to university. It further suggested that women should be entrusted with teaching responsibilities at the primary level to help create a more supportive learning environment for young students.

The memorandum also demanded stricter punishment for those convicted of rape, stating that the crime should be treated with the same legal seriousness as murder.

Additionally, the organisation urged authorities to prohibit the display of obscene images of women and to restrict the broadcast or publication of sexually explicit or vulgar content through television, films, advertisements and literature.

Other demands included the eradication of the dowry system, the introduction of self-defence training such as judo and karate for girls in schools, and ensuring equal political representation for women from the panchayat level up to Parliament.

The memorandum further called on the government to introduce programmes aimed at strengthening women’s economic independence and to take stronger steps to curb the production and distribution of intoxicants and drugs.