Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 18
Assuring that the government will always give support to empower women, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today reiterated that the state believed in the equality of women. “We have full respect for our women and they are taken care,” he declared while inaugurating the new building of Directorate of Women Development at Meriema, Kohima, near Nagaland University campus.
Stating that the ratio of the state’s population stands 50:50 male/female, he said that if 50% of the population is not made productive then there will be no growth of the economy. “You are responsible for 50% of our society,” he said adding that huge task and challenges surround them. He said, the ratio goes to show that we do not neglect our girl child, adding that the government gives equality.
Chief Minister said he extended extra funding from corpus fund for various activities and at the same time asked the women folk to come up with a viable project and see that the capital is not eaten but invested and focus is on production. He also called upon the department to come up with new initiatives, saying that government is behind them. “We shall look forward to the partnership,” he said.
Stressing on the need to make Nagaland a production state, he said “We have to work, earn, save and invest.” He also called for a return to the work culture ethics of yesteryears.
The Chief Minister also told the women folk that a progressive entrepreneur is the need of the hour and not a normal entrepreneur.
‘Women are a great work force behind allied and other sectors alike and therefore has a part to play,” Rio said and encouraged the women and the department to work on trust.
By owning a new directorate building, Rio hoped that the officers and staff will work extra hard for the needy people and reach out to the grass root level.
Rio said that a separate Women Department has been created way back in 2003 with a political vision to give socio economic development and to empower women so that they can stand on their own feet.
He opined that by empowering women the upliftment of the society is ensured as women is by nature more focused, more sincere and has the higher capacity of supporting not only themselves but also the family and the society. Rio said a lot of activities are being undertaken by the Women Department like business sector, entrepreneurs, extending free loan, training, promoting weaving etc.
He also stated that the government could not implement 33% reservation for women to local bodies, saying that after civil societies registering opposition to it the government had to review the act and for which it was put on hold. The matter is now in the court.
Earlier, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Welfare, Child & Women Development Chotisuh Sazo said with the creation of a separate Women Development Department, Nagaland State Commission for Women has been instituted and also adopted Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.
The state got best Diamond Award in the Small State category for empowerment of women and the state’s IRB mahila battalion who discharged excellent duty during the Commonwealth game in Delhi has been appreciated by one and all.
Sazo also said that the literacy of women has improved a lot. He said that the department has launched various schemes including transformative livelihood intervention, textile weaving and promotion project, promotion of women in innovative enterprises programme, women entrepreneurial development initiative, micro-enterprise development programme, women development and resource centre, multi purpose training and marketing complex, rehab-cum-support centre etc.
Sazo was also optimistic that with the completion of the new directorate building, the department would perform better with efficiency and competent.
