NMA conferred ‘Achiever Social Service’ award in Guwahati

DIMAPUR — The Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) received the ‘Achiever Social Service’ award at the ninth edition of the Achiever Awards on January 5 in Guwahati, Assam, under the patronage of the Sadin-Pratidin Group.

The award was proposed by a panel that included the group’s chairman and editor, Jayanta Baruah, as well as the editors of the group’s four media brands – Sadin, Asomiya Pratidin, Nandini and Pratidin Time.

The NMA, a civil society organisation founded in 1984, was recognised for ‘excellence in social service,’ particularly in their efforts to promote peace and control drug and substance abuse.

When contacted, the association’s president Vilanuo Angela Yhome told the Eastern Mirror that the award surprised the organisation because they had never worked with or been associated with the Sadin-Pratidin Group.

 “We received a prestigious award, so we are very happy with the acknowledgment. Acknowledging our work is a big thing for us,” Yhome said.

The group, she said, had been following the issues that the NMA has been addressing over the years for the community.

The NMA president informed that the organisation has been recognised for drug control, peace initiatives among Naga factional groups, services rendered to the people and asserting women’s rights.

“They noted how we struggled to achieve our rights as well as how we work for de-addiction of drugs and our HIV advocacy, the peace initiative taken by NMA with the slogan ‘shed no more blood,’ and visiting all the groups and bringing them under ceasefire,” she elaborated.

The association was formed at a time when substance abuse, alcoholism, and insurgency in the region were escalating, and thus the NMA became a platform to address drugs and alcoholism, peace and conflict, women’s reservation, and HIV and AIDS advocacy. It also brought together the women groups of different Naga tribes.

According to Yhome, NMA’s resolution for 2024 is to rededicate themselves and work harder for the community.

Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Sarbananda Sonowal chaired the award ceremony where several other personalities, including journalists, civil service personnel, activists, etc., also received awards in various categories.  

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