DIMAPUR, OCT 30 (NPN): State chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday underscored the need for women’s meaningful participation in development and decision-making, as the Eastern Nagaland Women Organisation (ENWO) began its 6th general conference at Konyak Heritage, Mon, on the theme “Elevate, Enable, Evolve”.
Addressing the inaugural session, Rio acknowledged ENWO’s contributions to women’s empowerment, dignity and rights, and encouraged the organisation to continue advocating for social justice and greater institutional representation.
Congratulating the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), tribal bodies and legislators on the achievement of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), Rio said the agreement would usher in a new era of development, inclusivity and opportunities for the region.
He highlighted the importance of the ENWO Resource Centre and called for greater emphasis on literacy, education and economic empowerment.
Referring to women’s progress in Nagaland, he cited the state’s first-place ranking in SDG 5 (Gender Equality) in the NITI Aayog SDG India Index 2023–24, as well as growing participation in education, entrepreneurship and governance.
He also cited the election of S. Phangnon Konyak as Nagaland’s first woman Rajya Sabha MP and Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu as the state’s first women MLAs.
In the last Urban Local Body elections, he noted, 102 of the 198 women candidates were elected, including eight from unreserved wards.
ENWO seeks role in FNTA: Earlier, ENWO president Yingphe Konyak called for women’s equal partnership and representation in the proposed FNTA decision-making process, expressing concern over the organisation’s exclusion from the process.
Recalling ENWO’s support for the ENPO movement, she said the organisation had shared its struggles and sacrifices and described its exclusion at this stage as a painful contradiction.
She appealed to the chief minister to facilitate dialogue with the stakeholders to ensure ENWO’s participation.
Thanking the chief minister for ensuring 33% women’s reservation in the FNTA Memorandum of Agreement, Yingphe said women could not be expected to share equally in a movement’s sacrifices and then be excluded from shaping its future.
She said ENWO, established on April 17, 2008, brought together the eight tribal women’s organisations to advance their collective interests, but women remained inadequately represented in decision-making institutions.
Also, speaking at the event, deputy commissioner (DC) Mon Wennyei Konyak stressed the need to expand women’s access to education, entrepreneurship, leadership and decision-making, while acknowledging their role in preserving cultural heritage and strengthening communities.
The inaugural session began with the unfurling of the ENWO flag and rendition of the organisational anthem, followed by an invocation prayer by KBBB mission secretary Rev. A. Peihwang Wangsa.
The chief minister also inaugurated exhibition stalls showcasing indigenous products, entrepreneurial initiatives and the cultural heritage of the eight tribal communities.
