A Naga woman selling vegetables at Supermarket, Dimapur. Most Naga vegetable vendors in the state are women, trying to earn a livelihood to support their families. Photo by Caisii Mao
Let us together decide to remove all obstacles that prevent women from achieving their full potential: Governor
Chizokho Vero
Kohima | March 8
Kohima | March 8
Nagaland Governor Dr. Ashwani Kumar today stressed on the need to ensure that women are guaranteed equal opportunities in social, economic and political spheres.
“Let us together decide to remove all obstacles that prevent women from achieving their full potential. There is a need for us to have a re-look at our old traditions and customs so that our youth and women can become equal partners in our journey into the future,” Dr. Kumar said, while speaking at the observation of International Women’s Day in Kohima on Saturday.
He said that several incidents over the past one year have jolted “our collective conscience.” First was the gruesome murder of a housewife at Dimapur. Then, the molestation of women engaged in the service of the Church, the horrible torture inflicted on a woman in Kohima and the exploitation of a physically and mentally challenged girl.
The Governor said that these incidents indicate how cruel “we can be to our women folk.” “How can our rich traditions, culture and customs fail to prevent such shameful incidents?” Dr. Kumar condemned these “acts of gender insensitivity, atrocities and inequalities” in Naga society. “There is urgent need to empower women and make them equal partners in the progress of our country,” he added.
Dr. Kumar said that it will be impossible to create an economically prosperous and a healthy/happy society, without addressing these issues and ensuring full participation of women in the decision making structures.
Redouble Efforts for
Protection of Women
Minister for Social Welfare, Kiyanilie Peseyie challenged the gathering to redouble efforts for protection of women and their welfare. “We must strive to ensure that women feel safe and secure at all times in our society.” Peseyie said that the State Resource Centre for Women was established to facilitate the processes that contribute to economic empowerment of women and social empowerment of women with emphasis of health and education. The department also set up a Women Commission in the state. “The welfare of our women is our priority and therefore, let us take optimum advantage of this new initiative,” he said.
“Women Protection
Centers” In All Districts
Parliamentary Secretary for Sericulture, Cooperation & Women Development, Pukhayi Sumi said that Nagaland is the only state in the country to have a separate department for women development. He assured that the department is doing its best to promote women’s economic empowerment and social participation and also extending loan facilities to promote individuals and SHGs for economic self reliance. The department will soon come up with an ambitious project exclusively for women “Women Protection Centers” in every district, he said.
Women Strongly
Fighting Social Evils
Chief Secretary, Banuo Z Jamir said that much needs to be done to address safety and security issues for women in Nagaland. She asserted that women civil bodies have come out strongly against social evils and have made their voices heard wherever there are instances of violation of rights against women.
“They determinedly and courageously continue to advocate for peace within the state, in a democratic and mature way, generating awareness amongst the general public not to create a conflict situation. This dimension of the role of Naga women from the traditional family environment to the socio-economic domain cannot therefore be ignored,” she said.
In the decision making arena, she said there is today an encouraging presence of women at every senior level in the government sector. Nagaland has a women battalion in police, which is perhaps a first amongst the states in the country. “However, from the village to the Legislative Assembly, women still need to go that extra mile to arrive at an equal position, at par with men,” she said.
The programme was organized by the Department for Women Development with Nagaland State Commission for Women and State Resource Centre for Women, under the theme “Inspiring Change.” It was chaired by Ramango Lotha, Secretary, Department for Women Development. Welcome address was delivered by Bano Vinito Chishi, Chairperson NSSWB while vote of thanks was proposed by Daisy Mezhur, Mission Director SRCW.
