Minister of Higher & Technical Education and Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along, Wednesday stressed the importance of promoting indigenous products and asserted that the real freedom of Nagas lay in showcasing the products that have been produced within their land.
Speaking as guest of honour Working Woman Expo which commenced at Dimapur Government College grounds here Wednesday, the minister said “if your freedom is at bondage and dependent only on others than you can never be free”. The three-day expo is being organised by the Working Woman Project, a non-profit endeavour established with the aim to create self reliance among women from low income households in Dimapur.
The minister lamented that Nagas today have lost their culture of hard work and indigenous farming practices and have started importing everything.
Along, however, was optimistic that one day through the initiative of self help groups (SHGs) indigenous products from Nagaland would be exported and make the economy of the state sustainable.
Emphasising the importance of supporting local business and promoting indigenous culture, he said “Let us buy our own people’s products, our own organic foods and promote our own traditional clothes and our way of life and not the way of life of others,” he said.
“Today we are Indians but also we are Nagas, we have to know how to correlate to live together with the right balance of mindset towards each other and not by undermining each other,” Along added.
On the occasion, the minister also congratulated the womenfolk from SHGs participating in the expo for their determination and zeal. He hoped that the initiative would also empower other women in the district and the state at large.
Minister said he looked forward to providing better market linkage to those whose products have been exported on a large scale.
Appreciating the initiative, Along announced that through the livelihood mission scheme under tribal affairs ministry, the department of tribal affairs would grant Rs.1 crore to the Working Women Project, which was founded by Moatoshi Longkumer, MLA 2 Dimpaur II A/C.
The minister, therefore, encouraged the SHGs to work with dedication and sincerity.
Delivering keynote address, Moatoshi Longkumer, MLA, highlighted the working women activities. He said the Working Woman Project was founded in April 2018. MLA said that initially the project was proposed for 39 colonies that fall under 2 Dimapur II Assembly constituency. The initiative has impacted 242 SHGs covering 39 colonies and 2400 families.
Several stalls have been set up by working woman SHGs at the expo, which would culminate on December 20. Products at stalls range from handicrafts, readymade household items, garment handmade baskets and woodwork, to processed food products.
Highlights of the programme include Christmas carol singing competition, in which participants from different churches, colonies and clubs competed for prize money of Rs 50000.