Women empowerment in Naga society

Women empowerment refers to making women powerful enough to make their own decision regarding their lives and well-being in the Family and Society.
Nagaland, in Northeast India, with a population of 1.9 million has managed its own civil and legal affairs since its inception as a federal unit within the Republic of India in 1963.
Nearly, 90.7 percent of the women in Nagaland make their own decision or decision jointly with their husbands, which is the highest in the entire country the survey found.
Naga Society is a casteless and classless society where traditionally women have enjoyed a high social positioning and a fair spirit of independence playing a very central role in Family and community affairs.
Economics participation and educational attainment are the key constituents ensuring the empowerment of women through entrepreneurship.
The economic empowerment of women through entrepreneurship is a vital element of strong economic growth and development all over the country.
In most of the countries, majority of business owners or managers are owned by males, however, there is increasing evidence that more and more women are becoming interested in small businesses in their ways which help to grow women in many fields and be independent.
The empowerment theme runs strongly through all the literature, policy documents, planned initiative, etc. Emancipation of women is a prerequisite for the nation’s Economic development and social upliftment. The role of women and the need to empower them are central to human development programs.
Ever since independence, several innovative schemes have been launched for the upliftment of women in India.
Empowering women is not just muting their economic needs but also for more holistic social development. The SHGs empower women both socially and economically.
They encourage women to participate in decision-making in the household, community, and local democratic sector and prepare women to take leadership positions.
Participation of Naga women in different fields:
Women in Economy
Women participation in economic activity is more in the rural sector in Nagaland, according to the Annual administration report 2019-2020. Participation of women in the rural sector is 52.3% compared to the urban sector which has 25.9% overall, and the workforce participation rate for women is 44.7% against 53.4% for men in Nagaland.
Women in Agriculture
Around 65.2% in rural Nagaland constitute the cultivators and agricultural workers out of which 7.3% are female workers. Mrs. Kygum, president of the Women Farmer Club who hails from Jalukie makes a great impact in empowering women and promoting agriculture. She says ‘Though a small initiative, we are in the process of acquiring new skills from each other and happy to put forward it learning in every possible way.’
Women in Industry
The important role played by women in electronics, information technology, food processing and agro-industries have been a crucial development.
Naga entrepreneur Zakietsono Jamir the founder and owner of Farmer square cafe in Medziphema rural Nagaland, served freshly ground coffee to the customers which is an eco-friendly and pristine to environment.
In addition, they also offer different blends and other types of locally processed food products like pickles sauce, mushrooms, canned pineapples, etc.
Her business growth empowered and motivated other women to achieve their goals in many fields.
Some successful Naga women entrepreneurs like Karen Yepthomi of Dzukoü kitchen bagged the Varindhara women entrepreneurs award in the year 2015-2016 from Nagaland while Temsusenla of the Fusion store was conferred the Varindhara women Entrepreneurs award in the year 2016-2017 from Nagaland.
Jasmina is the founder of heirloom Naga, a textile studio based in Dimapur which employs more than 450 Naga women who moved their own homes, creating a textile that draws inspiration from traditional Naga patterns.
Thus, empowerment of women through skills development will benefit not only the individual women but also the family and community as a whole.
Naugsina and Senbeni, BA 1st semester, Economics Honours,
Immanuel College, Dimapur.