‘Empowering women with action’

Dimapur, July 16 (MExN): The department of Women Development in Nagaland continues to endeavor focusing to usher in socio-economic empowerment of women in the state. The department has been active on many fronts for the uplift of women, with various activities being undertaken to fulfill the visions and objectives the department was instated in the first place. 

For instance, the department has entered into partnerships with the apex Naga women hohos in all the districts. These partner NGOs are implementing various schemes of the department, without the government having to create a huge number of district government functionaries. According to the Annual Administrative Report of the Department 2008-2009, the main thrust of the department during the year was to create, develop and strengthen women-centered Self Help Groups (SHGs) by expanding current activities and introducing new strategies.

In the absence of district officers and staffers, the department has worked out a system to partner with apex women organization (hohos) in each district. Under this partnership, selected NGOs assist the department in implementation, verification and supervision of schemes and activities. 

The department will continue to provide Grant-in-Aid to the partner NGOs and others working for the rehabilitation and support of women in difficult circumstances. This include women in extreme poverty, destitute and deserted women, women in conflict situations, women affected by natural calamities, physical and mentally challenged women, widows, women headed households, victims of marital violence, victims of sexual exploitation. To alleviate the plight of destitute women, a financial aid of Rs. 200 is extended to them per month. Presently, 2, 000 destitute women are being benefited and during the fiscal year 190 beneficiaries were added.

In another area, the department provides nutritional support to HIV/AIDS infected women as most of them are too poor to afford proper meals and are ‘consequently too weak to withstand the affect of strong medicines prescribed for them.’ To implement this programme and other programmes related to HIV/AIDS, the department is working in partnership with eleven NGOs who are working for the welfare of HIV/AIDS infected women in their respective districts. 

Another effort the department is making towards the cause of women elevation is under the Integrated Cluster Development Project (ICDP). The department, in collaboration with Nandi Foundation of Hyderabad and financial support from NABARD has initiated the integrated cluster development for food processing by establishing processing and canning centers in selected blocks. This programme envisages providing technical skills to women, establishing centers equipped with comprehensive support instruments, providing marketing support and social mobilization and institution-building for management. The aim of the project is to establish six common service centers, with necessary fruit and spice processing equipments, managed by women’s groups to provide processing services to 3000 women in 8 blocks of Dimapur, Peren and Kohima districts.