Y Merina Chishi
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 12
Nagas, often perceived an egalitarian society showed some of its true colours when the issue of 33% reservation for women in Assembly came up. The need for women representation through reservation received brickbats from various quarters, proving that most Naga people have not understood the idea that men and women have defined roles in society. The failure to realise the need for equal participation, both men and women, at the decision-making level, also indicates to large extent the political immaturity of the Naga people.
At the grass-root level, women’s voices continue to be suppressed silently. While the rest of country has adopted 50% reservation for women at Panchayat-level, Naga women have remained invisible. Interestingly, the proposal to have 25% reservation for women in the Village Development Boards (VDB) have also not been implemented thoroughly except stray cases of women’s participation at the grass-root level. Despite the poor show in the wake of stiff opposition against women reservation, the fact that there has been silent transformation through Village Development Boards and Village Councils (VCC) cannot be ignored.
The glimmer of hope has been arrived at as a result of some women risking everything to make their presence felt. One such lady is the VDB secretary of Xukhepu village in Zunheboto district of Nagaland. Her story is beacon for many other women who dream of becoming party to decision-making bodies.
Suniho Zhimomi has been the VDB secretary of Xukhepu village since July 25, 2009. Stepping into a man’s shoes was not an easy task for her but one year on, and she has proved beyond doubt her mantle and mettle. The first woman VDB secretary in Zunheboto district, Zhimomi’s achievements prove the need for equal participation of women at all levels of decision-making.
Located about 8 km from Zunheboto town, Xukhepu village rests on a plateau. Since its inception, the villagers have lived with one approach road paved in the 1960s. Since taking over as secretary, Zhimomi has given the village, with 115 job card holders a 3 km link road, through the NREGA. A new approach road is also under construction. The villagers who had suffered the brunt in the absence of water supply for decades now have been gifted with a water harvesting tank.
Zhimomi has also been playing a significant role in empowering women in her village. Since taking over, she has helped constitute 5 self-help groups (SHGs). She has also involved about 200 women in the SHGs who engage in knitting, community cooking, businesses etc. The SHGs have a common agricultural field where the women cultivate group-wise and sell the produce at the nearest market. Zhimomi has trained women on proper financial management and many are now better off financially.
With Zhimomi’s commitment to better living conditions for the village has to a large extent seen positive changes, she now has plans to involve more women into the VDB and her commitment rests towards fighting for 25% women reservation in the VDB. Her priority is to make women in her village more financially independent and use them as an instrument to fight all forms of social evils within the village community.
Zhimomi’s strength and dedication is reflected in her ability to assert her voice among men. She was elected unanimously by the village, and who, do not regret their decision. “Since she took over there has been a lot of transparency in management of NREGA funds, more financial security and development in the village,” the VCC chairman said.
Zhimomi’s educational qualification has been an added bonus for the village. She shares good rapport with departmental officers and carries out all paper-works without hassles, the VCC added. Zhimomi has brought focus on issues previously unattended such as health, education and power and water for villagers.
When the village approached her in 2009, Zhimomi was apprehensive about leaving her children and home. As a private school teacher she had other priorities. But the need for the villagers to have an educated ‘woman’ candidate as secretary was an inevitable choice she had to make. Zhimomi’s work speaks for itself and the village is set to become the next ‘model village’ of Zunheboto district.
Interestingly, the positive steps and initiatives taken by a woman leader to fulfill long-desired aspirations for the village today poses as a challenge for the male counterparts who have been at the helm of affairs in decision-making bodies.
Y Merina Chishi is a Reporter of The Morung Express. She can be reached at merinachishi@gmail.com
