IWD: 5 women achievers receive NSCW Awards
Nagaland joined rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day on Monday. On the occasion, Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW) chairpersons Khrienuo Tachü urged the State government to introduce Acquired Property Bill in Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Tachü explained that NSCW’s standpoint was clear that the issue was not about ancestral property and clarified that the commission did not seek to interfere in private decisions of parents regarding acquired property as the sole decision lay on them. She also pointed out that as a statutory body, NSCW sought to intervene in specific cases where parents having no sons and only daughters were faced with the issue of inheritance of acquired property.
During the event, jointly organised by Nagaland State Commission for Women, Nagaland State Social Welfare Board and State Resource Centre for Women on the theme “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID 19 World” at Hotel Vivor here, five women achievers were given NSCW Awards 2021.
The five women achievers included Naga Mothers’ Association president Abei-u Meru, Kohima chief medical officer Dr Vezokholu Theyo, Nagaland College Principals’ Association president and Japfu Christian College, Kigwema principal Dr Visakhonü, Kohima Chang Baptist Church pastor S Anungla, and officer in-charge of women cell police station, Dimapur, inspector Rose Yanthan.
Speaking on the occasion as guest of honour, chief secretary J Alam observed that the biggest challenge for women began at home and stressed that the wives toiling hard for their homes should be recognised as “homemakers”.
He felt that the inspiring and success stories of the five women should be shared not only within Nagaland but outside as they were about “sacrifice and resilience”. As social change often came in conflict with customs and traditions, he said “we” must know how to go with the change without disrupting social fabric.
Mentioning that women had played a leadership role during the pandemic, he added that the entire situation would have been more difficult to handle without the participation of women. Congratulating the awardees, the chief secretary assured to look into the appeal of NSCW to introduce Acquired Property Bill in Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
In her keynote address, NSCW chairperson Khrienuo Tachü said the common denominator in life stories of all Naga women leaders and path-breakers, both past and present, was their resilience and great fortitude amid challenges and setbacks.
She remarked that undeniably there were Naga men who had achieved success and rose to leadership positions against all odds, but added that it might be strongly argued that Naga social institutions, norms and practices had proved more advantageous for men than women.
Tachü mentioned that some prominent Naga women leaders like Rano Shaiza, Neichiüilieü Nikki Haralu, Dr Khrielieü Kire, Banuo Z Jamir and Prof Temsula Ao were role models for women both at home and outside the State.
She pointed out that prominent church worker Rev Dr Noksangchila had to overcome prejudices both at home and outside and waited for 17 long years before becoming the first Naga woman ordained minister. She said Naga women should realise their inner strength, adding that they were richly endowed with to become efficient.
Noting that times were changing and women were emerging as leaders in various fields, Tachü said there Naga society should introspect on women attaining leadership positions in the political arena and give them more space in decision-making, both at the local and the State levels.
The NSCW chairperson said Naga mothers, daughters and sisters looked to the future with great hope and optimism as it was a matter of pride for the State to have many Naga women in leadership positions, who earned their positions by their own sweat and calibre, and because of which the commission had constituted the Achievement Award. Earlier, in her introductory remark, social welfare commissioner & secretary and NSSWB administrator Sarah R Ritse said the pandemic had made Nagas realize that women have a crucial role to play as heads of departments and as homemakers.
She commented that the role of strongly dedicated women frontline workers in various services, who went about their duties beyond their areas of comfort by reaching out to targeted groups without letting this pandemic affect them, was praiseworthy.
She also highlighted some women-related schemes and activities undertaken by the board.
Ritse claimed that One Stop Centre and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao schemes were uniquely designed by the Union ministry of women & child development and funds were directly transferred by the ministry to the respective deputy commissioners (DCs) and not through the department. She said the State social welfare department monitored, guided, evaluated and liaised between the ministry and the DCs for its proper implementation through SRCW.
She appealed to all stakeholders to encourage active community participation by working hand in hand with the DCs to take these schemes forward so that the districts could benefit from them.
Director general of police and a host of other senior government officials, women tribal representatives and others attended the programme.