Western Sümi Totimi Hoho (WSTH) conducted a day long panel discussion on the topic “gender balance” at Covenant Hall, Christian Higher Secondary School, Dimapur on October 5.
A press release from WSTH media and publicity stated that, former minister Ihezhe Sema, spoke on the topic and said that with the change of time one should also adapt to it.
Speaker Zhekheli Zhimomi, advocate spoke on legal way of securing gender balance, stating that if the men understood the rights of the women by themselves than women won’t have to fight or ask for their rights.
The third speaker Rev. Hukato Shohe, admin, Riverine School Thilixu while speaking on the perspective of church said that at this stage there were women pastors who have been ordained unlike the olden days.
Former DMC chairperson, Y Vikheho Awomi spoke on gender balance in politics, wherein he pointed out that it has been 55 years since the Nagas entered into the field of politics but till now no Naga women legislator has emerged in the state. He said that till now the rights of women are suppressed.
Proprietor of Organic Nagaland spoke from the family perspective and said that gender balance should be started from the family as a state with a democratic family is a democratic state.
Dr. Hotokhu Chishi, addl. director, Health and Family Welfare spoke on how a society looks on gender equity. He said that, there were no such rules during forefather’s time that men work should be done by men or women’s work should be done by women but it was men who took up hard work which required strength and muscles and women folks did the household works. Our forefathers gave high respect to the women folk who were very precious for them.
Khekiye K Sema who spoke on gender balance in administration encouraged women to stand and work for their rights and not just to demand it. Dr. Kakheto Zhimomi, president, Western Sumi Hoho urged the gathering to take it to the grassroot level as change will be brought through them.
G. Jolly Zhimomi, president, WSTH delivered the keynote address. Programme was chaired by Anali Sema, vice president, WSTH, Dr Hesheto Chishi, director, Indigeneous Cultural Society was the moderator, Jonah D Achumi, WSH, media cell, convenor and Honikali Lohe, editor, Sümi Küküpütsa recorded the programme, invocation was done by Nivukhu V. Zhimo, associate pastor, SBC East Dimapur and Hokheli Aye, associate pastor Women, Dimapur SBC gave the benediction.
Many GBs and leaders attended the programme, including the WSH, WSSU, different STH units and church leaders.