International Day of Rural Women commemorated in Phek

DIMAPUR — EAC Chozuba, Sangpachang Longkumer, said on Friday during a programme commemorating the International Day of Rural Women that holistic development and gender equality discussions should not be limited to theory but should be put into practise.

The event was organised by North East Network (NEN) in collaboration with SEWA Shakti Kendra (SSK), Pfutsero, at the women resource centre (WRC) at Runguzu Nasa, Phek district.

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Longkumer maintained that the day is an ardent call to appreciate and acknowledge the immense contribution of women, especially in rural areas. He remarked that women, who constitute a major percentage of the population, should be given equal partnership and participation in all spheres of life, including local administration.

He lauded the efforts of civil society organisations, NGOs like NEN, and government departments such as Women Resource Development, which is solely dedicated to women’s development. He called upon civil societies, village bodies, NGOs, and churches to come together and collectively work for the upliftment of women.

Wekoweu Tsuhah, state coordinator, NEN, clarified in her welcome address that the day should have been celebrated on October 15, but noting that the date falls on a Sunday, the organisation agreed to have a pre-event.

She maintained that the day was celebrated to acknowledge the contribution that rural women make. Tsuhah cited that 95% of house-care and domestic work is carried out by women, and 75% of agricultural work is done by rural women.

The state coordinator called upon the gathering to recognise and acknowledge the contributions of women in society by sharing care work and domestic work and not relegating them to a specific gender.

She called upon the village councils to allow women to be a part of their decision making mechanisms. She maintained that resources such as training, information, and skills should be made accessible to women.

Assistant director of Women Resource Development, T Thungbemo Patton, shared that the department of Women Resource bifurcated from the Social Welfare department in 2003 as the Rio-led government wanted to address women issues and that in 2006, it became a fully-fledged department.

Patton mentioned that India is a rural country and that Nagaland is a rural state, and added that unless rural women’s contributions are recognised, all round development cannot even be dreamed of.