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MOKOKCHUNG — Former president of Watsu Mungdang, Dr. Imlirenla Walling, on Friday lamented that women in Naga patriarchal society are still struggling to find their place in decision making bodies and inheritance of parental properties.
Dr. Walling, who was the keynote speaker, stated this during the ‘International Women’s Day’ programme organised by the Mokokchung district administration and District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), in collaboration with the English department of Fazl Ali College (FAC), on the theme “Invest in women: Accelerate progress.”
Speaking on ‘Property rights of women in the Ao Naga context,’ she presented a paper highlighting two important aspects namely inherited or ancestral property and acquired or achieved property.
Asserting that property rights among the Ao Nagas are heavily biased in favour of men, she stated that patrilineal inheritance threatens the society and wellbeing of women especially those who are financially dependent on their spouses and parents.
A panel discussion on the topic “Carving a space of her own: A discussion on Naga women writers” was held with Dr. Moalemla Imchen as the moderator.
The panelists included student representatives from Clark Theological College, Mokokchung College of Teacher Education, People’s College Mokokchung, besides the host college.
Abeinuo Jasmine Ashao, SDO (Civil) of Mokokchung, delivered the concluding remarks. She informed that the main purpose of the panel discussion was to introduce idea of having an insightful discourse on the position of women in the society today.
To accelerate the progress of women, she opined that it is important to send an elected women representative to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly from Mokokchung district since the Aos are considered to be the pioneers in education.
She also asserted that the economically independent is the first step towards empowerment of women. IN this regard, she urged the gathering to avail benefit of women centric welfare schemes aimed at making them self-reliant and to become catalysts of change for the future generation.
In another programme, Watsü Mungdang, the apex body of Ao women's organisation, in collaboration with district administration, Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) and other key stakeholders, celebrated ‘International Women's Day’ at Mokokchung town hall Mokokchung.
Rachel Jamir, associate women pastor of Kumlong, underscored the importance of recognising women's work and contributions, acknowledging their dignity of labour and ensuring their collective participation. She encouraged the women to motivate and inspire each other, breaking barriers that hinder women's independence and advocating for their rights and societal betterment.
Rachel also highlighted the prevalence of inferiority complexes between males and females in society and urged to shun such complexes. She also advocated lifting one another rather than discouraging and fostering inclusion among women.
Moatoshi, NSRLM assistant district program manager; Imlichila, officer in-charge of Women Police Station, Mokokchung; Tsükjemangla, nursing superintendent at IMDH; and Watitemjen, Mokokchung district legal services authority, also spoke in the event.