Nagaland observes International Women’s Day with launch of Poorna Shakti Kendra
Correspondent
Kohima, March 8
Nagaland joined the rest of the world in observing International Women’s Day by launching the Poorna Shakti Kendra with Nagaland State Social Welfare Board as the nodal office to empower the Naga women here today.
Addressing a mammoth gathering, Governor Dr Ashwani Kumar said the Women’s Day is the time to reflect and review the present status of women in the State.“In our country, it is said that we worship women. In our religions, we find many female Goddesses, who are considered more powerful than even the male Gods. In our houses, we love our mothers, sisters and wives but the question is do we really respect them, the way we respect the male members of family. I wish I could say with confidence that we treat our womenfolk in the same manner that we treat our male relatives,” he said.
He recalled that several incidents in the past one year in the State have jolted the collective conscience indicating how cruel one can be to the womenfolk. He said first was the gruesome murder of a housewife in Dimapur in the month of July 2013, then the molestation of women engaged in the service of the Church, this was followed by a report of the horrible torture inflicted on a women in Kohima and the worst was the news about the exploitation of a physically and mentally challenged girl.
“These incidents have shaken all of us and refuse to leave our thoughts,” he said, adding we should not be satisfied that the criminals have been identified and arrested, as they are yet to be punished in a befitting manner.
He reminded that the Constitution of India, adopted in 1950, guarantees equal rights, equal wages, equal opportunities and absolutely no discrimination on ground of sex and gender.
“Then why these acts of gender insensitivity, atrocities and inequalities are taking place in our society,” he questioned.
Lamenting that bills for providing reservation to women in state legislative assemblies and Parliament are lying pending for lack of consensus, the Gvoernor said there is an urgent need to empower the women and make them equal partners in the progress of the country.
He also emphatically stated that it will be impossible to create an economically prosperous and a healthy/happy society, without addressing these issues and ensuring full participation of women in the decision-making structures.
“We need to ensure that our women are guaranteed equal opportunities in all spheres-social, economic and political,” he said.
The Governor also called upon all to come together and decide to remove all obstacles that prevent the women from achieving their full potential while also expressing that there is need to have a re-look at the old traditions and customs so that the youth and women can become equal partners in the journey into the future.
