Women’s participation must for socio-economic transformation, says NLA Speaker Sharingain Longkumer

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 18 (EMN): Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Speaker, Sharingain Longkumer on Friday underscored the importance of women’s participation and contribution to bring about socio-economic transformation in a society. 

He was addressing a multi-stakeholder conclave on evidence-based policy consultation on enabling women entrepreneurship, at Capital Convention Centre in Kohima. The event was organised by Investment Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN).

Stressing on the need for women empowerment, the NLA Speaker said women entrepreneurs should apply ‘each one, reach one’ concept to enhance participation and bring about change. He added that they have a greater role to play in uplifting the socio-economic condition of the people.

Longkumer informed that the Government of the day is contemplating and discussing on ways to empower women and to improve economic well-being and quality of life of the people through women entrepreneurs and activists.

While maintaining that women in the state have huge potential in entrepreneurship and the existing entrepreneurs are faring well, he pointed out the need to reach out to more people and enhance participation in. For this, he said women in rural and urban areas should build a chain.

The NLA Speaker also emphasised on framing policies for better partaking of women and suggested them to put forth their ideas and suggestions on paper to the government so that it could be incorporated in its policies.

He went on to remind the gathering that the government of Nagaland had in February 2019 announced new start-up policy, allocating 25% fund for women entrepreneurs and plans to facilitate 500 start-ups in five years through Startup Nagaland with the department of Industries and Commerce as nodal department.

Naga women and property rights

Discriminatory property rights practised by many tribal communities like the Nagas, especially in rural areas with some exception in urban region, is still a major challenge that needs to be addressed for women to take up entrepreneurship, said Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Investment Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Alemtemshi Jamir in his keynote address at the event.

He encouraged the gathering to take on ‘this challenge’ and put forth for policy making in order to enable women to access collateral loans and financial services to do business.

Jamir stated that entrepreneurship is ingrained in the traditional Naga society and building family business together by men and women isn’t something new. However, he lamented the change in this practice.

He said that the society should remove the perception that women can’t be entrepreneurs, as they are capabilities and have all the qualities to be successful in the profession. He added that women should start a movement to encourage more people to set up enterprises.

The CEO also stressed on the need to adopt the African philosophy “Ubuntu”, meaning ‘’I am because we are’, while lamenting that individualism and materialism has become a trend in the state.

He stated that women also have to learn to help themselves and urged Naga women to stick to their strength — compassion — through ‘collaboration as against competition; empowerment over attainment of power’.

It’s time for women to stand up and lead the society to a better position, he stated, while acknowledging that a lot depends on the behavioural pattern of the public towards change, which starts from the kitchen.

Jamir further pointed out that there is no Industrial Policy in the state and the people should work towards introducing it through collective effort. He added that seriousness and contribution from the public is required for the government to frame tangible policy that matters.

He went on to urge the participants to build on their strengths and not to be influenced by the Western world, citing the rich natural resources and potentials in the state. He said women entrepreneurs have a challenging job at hand- to go against the rain and the wind.

Ullas Marar from Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit Gmbh (GIZ), and founder of Dhriiti, Anirban Gupta also addresses the conclave while panellists gave presentations on various topics.