Scholars advocate the need to address violence against women

KOHIMA, OCTOBER 7: A book titled “Enquiry into the Status of Women in Nagaland” was launched today at Hotel East Gate, opposite War Cemetery, Kohima.
The book, which is a study by the North East Network (NEN), Nagaland, was formally launched by Temsula Ao, chairperson of Nagaland State Commission for Women, in the presence of Dr. Monisha Behal, Executive Director, NEN.
The newly published book is an exploratory study on the status of women in three districts of rural Nagaland done in six villages during January 2014 to March 2016.
Speaking at the launching programme, Temsula Ao congratulated NEN for their devoted and untiring work for producing the path breaking document.
“The engagement of NEN through various activities and programmes towards improving the status of women in the entire North East needs no elaboration. Their approach has always been practical; organising local resources and honing native skills by initiating hands-on enterprises like weaving, farming methods and reviving neglected food resources,” Ao said adding that this particular approach is the best anywhere in the world where women are involved in the effort to upgrade their own status and empower themselves economically too.Basing on the book, Temsula shared her opinion mentioning that “If we are to convert this enquiry into reality for Naga women, then we have to follow the directions advocated in the document and help the young visionaries of NEN in covering as many villages as possible in the near future so as to convince the whole State that without the active participation of women, either in politics, economic and social endeavours, our State will never achieve the vision with which it was created after years of struggle and suffering for both men and women.
“This document poses vital questions to engage our intellect and encourage us to develop a progressive mindset, especially the men, in sync with the realities of the 21st century and lend their support to improve the status of women socially, economically and politically.
Executive Director, NEN, Dr. Monisha Behal, also stressed on the need for equal rights of men and women.
NEN executive director stated that government should lend support to women in any case, while she also proposed the need for formation of State Legal Services.
She observed that discrimination exists mainly due to lack of institutional support. To this, Behal outrightly pointed out that there is discrimination on women in Nagaland.
SDO Judicial, Neilezo Tep, who graced the launching in place of guest of honour Rovilato Mor, DC Kohima, also proposed the need of setting up institutions to address violence against women.
Making it a point that, in Nagaland, most of the violence against women are domestic, he felt this should be addressed at the earliest by setting up institutions.
Tep also went on to mention that there are very few dedicated and sincere non-governmental organisations to protect women and their rights in the State.
An overview of the book was given by Hraveine David, programme associate, NEN, through power-point presentation, while words of gratitude of behalf of NEN was tendered by Wekoweu Tsuhah, programme officer, NEN.
North East Network (NEN) is a women’s rights organisation working in the North East Region of India since 1995.
NEN’s vision is to build a society in the NER that upholds gender justice, equality and respect for human rights. NEN works on issues of gender based discrimination and violence against women, governance and state accountability, natural resources management and livelihoods.