Nagaland launches two skilling schemes for women

KOHIMA — Nagaland government launched two new schemes, namely ‘skill development for women through mobile skill morung’ and ‘skill training in collaboration with Nagaland Police Family Welfare Association’ under the Directorate of Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (DESDE) on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

Speaking during the launch of the schemes at the department’s auditorium hall in Kohima, Rajesh Soundararajan, Secretary of Labour and Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said that women’s representation in the global labour force is just around 40 per cent in many countries, while it is only about 30 per cent in India.

This figure is significant because it directly translates into economic activity, opportunities for women, income for families, and standard of living. Women’s income directly translates into the expenditure of the family, the official pointed out.

The lesser figures do not mean that women have no potential; they are more sincere than men and have established themselves, he said. What is lacking is the opportunity, accessibility to opportunities, targeted intervention, absence of segmenting them and coming up with a targeted approach, he added.

To address this, he said, the two newly introduced schemes, which aim at enhancing opportunities for women in the state, will come handy.

‘Skill development for women through mobile skill morung’ is a two-week project aimed at bringing skill training directly to the doorsteps of rural women. With a target to train 200 women in tailoring and baking, the initiative will help empower rural women to actively contribute to their families and communities’ socio-economic development.

Meanwhile, the ‘skill training in collaboration with Nagaland Police Family Welfare Association’ is being implemented effectively. It is a 360-hour specialized skill training programme in garment production, targeting wives of 32 police personnel, and engage them by establishing a sustainable nano-production unit with an aim to reduce production cost, generate income and enhance family income.

It was informed that the department will provide the initial platform but it’s the responsibility of associations to see the projects through and ensure that they are productive and sustained.

Secretary and ex-officio director of DESDE, Kovi Meyase, also informed that the state government is funding the two initiatives at INR 59 lakh, with an aim to address challenges faced by women in accessing skill development programmes, especially in rural areas, where accessibility, traditional roles, financial constraints, and limited awareness hinder their empowerment.

Participants of the skill development trainings will be given tool kits after the programme is over so that they earn a livelihood after training, he said, adding that the procedure for identifying the beneficiaries is still in the process.