On International Women’s Day, organisations like Women Entrepreneurs Network Nagaland and Miqlat Ministry highlight efforts to empower women in Nagaland.
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Thejakhrie Metha
DIMAPUR — Despite decades of progress in women’s rights and empowerment, the world continues to lag behind in ensuring safety, equality and justice for women.
A United Nations press release states that “no country in the world has reached full legal gender equality,” with millions of women and girls continuing to face violence, discrimination and abuse.
According to UN Women, the presence of laws alone does not guarantee justice or protection. When laws remain only on paper and are not effectively implemented, gaps in the justice system can leave survivors without adequate support.
UN Women also notes that women and girls often face multiple barriers when seeking justice, including fear, financial constraints, discrimination and social stigma.
Yet, across the world, initiatives continue to push for gender equality and women’s empowerment. One such global platform is International Women’s Day (IWD), observed annually on March 8.
Also read: Nagaland marks Women’s Day with call to confront gender violence
Women and girls in Nagaland, like in many parts of the world, continue to face social and structural barriers in their pursuit of justice, equality and economic independence.
However, several organisations in the state are working steadily to address these challenges and create opportunities for women.
Among them is the Women Entrepreneurs Network Nagaland (WENN), a women-led organisation working to strengthen the ecosystem for women entrepreneurs in the state.
The organisation focuses on empowering women by helping them build skills, access financial literacy and strengthen business governance.
Through workshops and training programmes led by professionals, WENN also provides technical guidance and soft-skill development to aspiring entrepreneurs.
In an effort to reach women beyond urban centres, the organisation has been expanding its outreach to interior districts to promote entrepreneurial literacy and self-reliance.
Within just three years of its establishment, WENN has built a platform where women entrepreneurs can network, collaborate and support one another.
The initiative aims to create a resilient community of entrepreneurs while connecting them with stakeholders, mentorship opportunities, funding information and legal compliance guidance.
One of its major initiatives is the WENN Bazaar, a three-day event that provides a platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their products.
Speaking about the event, WENN chairperson Alemjungla Jamir said that months of planning go into organising the bazaar.
“There were about 20 stalls in the initial year, then 75 stalls in the second year, and last year, in 2025, we had 110 stalls which generated around INR 70 lakh,” Jamir said.
She shared that the revenue generated during the event goes entirely to the participating entrepreneurs.
Beyond sales, the bazaar also serves as a learning and networking space where women entrepreneurs can exchange ideas, gain insights and build collaborations.
Highlighting the importance of information and collective effort, Jamir said, “Information is everything,” adding that when women support one another, “we can do anything and everything” to achieve entrepreneurial empowerment.
Asked about advocacy for women’s rights and justice, she stressed that meaningful change begins at home.
Another organisation working at the grassroots is Miqlat Ministry, a social and faith-based initiative under the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) women’s department.
The word Miqlat, derived from Hebrew, means “shelter” or “refuge” — a fitting name for the ministry, which provides support and rehabilitation for vulnerable women and girls.
The ministry traces its origins to a resolution adopted during the NBCC annual meeting in 2000, when the women’s department organised a conference on the theme ‘Women in the 21st Century.’
The discussions highlighted the need to address issues affecting Naga women, eventually leading to the establishment of Miqlat Ministry in 2005.
The organisation works to combat social issues such as human trafficking and prostitution while also supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, substance abuse and HIV-related vulnerabilities.
Miqlat provides shelter, counselling, rehabilitation and vocational training for women and girls in distress, helping them rebuild their lives and regain emotional stability.
Its outreach programme initially involved visiting local liquor outlets and hidden red-light areas in search of women in need of support.
Over time, referrals from survivors and families seeking help have also become an important channel for outreach.
The ministry also promotes economic empowerment by helping women develop skills that enable financial independence.
However, Miqlat Ministry coordinator Alole Tsürha stressed that the organisation’s impact goes far beyond economic empowerment.
“Many women, some with suicidal tendencies, after understanding the word of God now realise that the life they were living in the past was wrong,” Tsürha said.
She shared that many women struggle with emotional trauma and anger when they first arrive.
“It is very difficult for them to even say ‘sorry’ or ‘thank you’. But coming here and being able to say that is also a big breakthrough,” she said, adding that such moments represent the ministry’s everyday success stories.
According to Tsürha, shared trauma, empathy and a strong support system help the women rebuild their confidence and move forward.
“These women have helped each other discover potential and inspired each other to get better,” she said.
On the role of communities in promoting women’s rights and empowerment, Tsürha underscored the need for empathy and awareness.
“It is important that we go beyond our own family circle, empathise more with people and try to identify their needs, and voice out for the voiceless,” she said.
She added that when someone speaks up for a victim, that person may eventually find the strength to become a voice for others facing similar circumstances.
“I think as a community it is very important to empathise with people and become more informed,” she said.
(The writer is currently an intern at Eastern Mirror)