Along with the rest of the world, Noklak district observed International Women's Day celebration on 8th March 2022 at Longdon Baptist Church, Noklak Town.

            Inaugurating International Women’s Day 2021 through video message, Chairperson, Nagaland State Commission for women Khrienuo Tachu extended her warm greeting to Women of Noklak and wished that Noklak become exemplary in shaping women leadership.

            Chairperson, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Nagaland Awan Konyak, delivering inaugural lecture on the topic ‘The Contemporary Naga Women’ exhorted the women to strive hard in order to progress in every sphere of life looking at the women role models who have achieved in life through courage and conviction. She also acknowledged the fact that how contributions of women are positively recognized in Naga Community. The message from S.Tainiu, Joint Secretary & Project Director IFAD on ‘Gender and Empowerment’ was screened during the occasion.

            Speaking on the occasion, DC, Noklak, Reny Wilfred, IAS, delivered a comprehensive lecture on empowerment initiatives and stated that, vocational and educational empowerment center for school dropouts and adolescent girls shall be establish under the aegis of Beti Bacha Beti Phadhao, which will be a permanent training center where services will delivered on a weekly basis. Empowerment initiatives undergoing in the district was elaborated in details by Deputy Commissioner. Proposal has been submitted for sanitary pad unit which is expected to materialize in near future, he added. To improve the health and wellness parameters in the community, DC said, that a reverse osmosis plants for the whole town is plan to be operationize through KMH with the support of CSR donors. With respect to empowerment through employment, DC stated that proposal had been submitted for procurement of agricultural trucks for marketing of goods and taxi services through women entrepreneurs under the aegis of KMH.

            The project under NAWYEM initiatives mission is ongoing and Noklak has also received approval for setting up of business incubation center, he added. The community through KBCA is proposing for cluster based Development of agri products and handicrafts for which the proposal has been submitted, DC said. To improve the medical sector, proposal have been prepared for ambulance services and diagnostic facilities and improving the medical infrastructure in the district. Respective departments are in collaboration for ensuring the proper iniatialization and implementation of the projects. 

            DC emphasized on how to become Entrepreneurs, with the support of state, a pilot project is been initiated to provide micro loans to all aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to take up piggery and Mushrooms farming etc. Similarly, to support the cost of professional education, students’ loan facilities with support of State Bank of India and Khiamniungan Menyiu Hoikam are going to launch soon. Particular day for banking services exclusively for women, second and fourth Wednesday of every month. On that day, all support activities, scholarship, banking services opening or all transactions related to especially to women shall be given priority, DC said.

            As part of a targeted approach for providing medical services, one day in every month will be designated as a women special medical care day where district administration, CHC and FPA will be coordinating to ensure services are reaching even in the remote villages.

            In the area of tourism, Noklak had participated in the National Tourism Expo conducted in Kolkata on 25th of February  and soon will be initiating process for ensuring proper tourism development,  biodiversity conservation, trekking and trailing facilities where entrepreneurs will be trained for hospitality and to act as tourism guides.

            The DC also spoke at length on initiatives being taken in the field of horticulture,  promotion of honey, Kiwi, cardamom and other agri products, fisheries, solar lighting solutions and Sankalp for skill empowerment of the youth.

            To mark the occasion and creating ownership, DC announced three Committees under KMH which has been set up, namely; Women's Education Promotion Committee, Women's Health Promotion Committee and Women's Entrepreneurship Promotion Committee.

            Speaking on the occasion, Vincent Belho, General Manager, FPA India, Nagaland Branch stated that, Family Planning Association of India is a voluntary agency promoting voluntary and informed choice of family planning, contraception and spacing birth methods apart from other programs on SRH issues, adolescents health and gender based violence. FPA India, Nagaland Branch is happy to be partnering with District Administration, medical department and like-minded voluntary agencies to celebrate International Women's day at Noklak town, he added. He also spoke on upscale national programs like voluntary family planning, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Right to education and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

            Consultant FPA India, Nagaland branch Ville Rhetso spoke on Gender & Gender related issues as a resource person, spoke on the topic, 'Gender and Gender related issues', she stressed on gender inequality issue on the health of women and girls. Deliberating on 'Gender Based Violence (GBV) which also refers to Violence Against Women (VAW) she stated, 'GBV is prevalent in among all social classes and castes and women are most affected due to their subordinate status and which also reflects unequal power relations and patriarchy existing in the society.

            Highlighting the various types of GBV she said that violence against women does not only mean physical violence, it also includes sexual violence, emotional/psychological abuse and financial abuse. She informed, intimate partner violence and sexual violence are major public health problems. She also mentioned on the health consequences of Violence Against Women.

            Akangkokla Namo, Programme Officer FPA India Nagaland Branch on her speech stated that "hygiene helps in preventing diseases and following a hygiene routine helps in keeping oneself in perfect shape in order to prevent infections or illness." She stated that there are many sicknesses which can be caused by inadequate (poor) domestic or personal. She also spoke on personal hygiene which is essential, especially among women.           

            Founder & Director Prayaana Collective, Kerala Dr. Chandra Vadhana shared on Empowerment through Entrepreneurship & Presentation on NAWYEM (Noklak Artisan Women & Youth Empowerment Mission) on skilling and developing a marketing network for Noklak Women & Youth.

            President, Khiamniungan Menyiu Hoikam, Newkhai shared on “Women and Society: a Nagaland perspective’. She also expressed that, after Noklak got the district status, International Women's Day celebration is observing first time ever in the newly created district.

            DCPO Tuensang, Khaikho shared on Empowerment & Education-Education as a set up to realization of dreams and also spoke on Youth, Education and Career.

            Literature & Education Secretary, Khiamniungan Baptist Churches Association, Munno spoke on Empowerment & Awareness- stretching the horizon.

            Branch Manager, SBI Noklak Branch, Neikhoto spoke on Empowerment through financial inclusion: opportunities and challenges and he also spoke on Sustainable financial Security for the elderly.

            Dr.Meyachungla Jamir shared on Psycho social well being in geriatric population and also spoke on International Women's Day: A fresh perspective during the programme.

            Khiamniungan Menyiu Hoikam (KMH) facilitated on social benefit schemes to elderly & widows by registering all eligible beneficiary details for onward submissions to the government.

            To mark the occasion, special medical camp for women was held at CHC, Noklak which is expected to continue for days. Sanitary pads were distributed to school going adolescent girls.

            During the penal discussion on the topic, Outcome evaluation and stakeholder's commitments, SDO (Civil) C.Phuniang served as the moderator. A 18 point stakeholder commitment and outcome statement was released as  concluding remark of panel discussion.

            The programme was organised by District Administration, Noklak under the aegis of Beti Bachao Beti Phadhao and in collaboration with various other agencies and organizations.

18 point Outcome Statement of Women’s Day Celebration 2021 Noklak

            Based on commitment and statements of various stakeholders, an outcome statement was released as a factual follow up statement to ensure commitment and follow up from all the stakeholders of the meeting. The Twenty points are as below

1. KMH designated Women Education Empowerment Committee, Women Health Empowerment Committee, and Women Entrepreneurship Empowerment Committee to serve as a nodal point to provide consultation services to rural women and youth in respective domain. Each Committee have been designated with specific mobile number to which denizens call  get guidance and support starting from opening banking account, availing educational and entrepreneurship loans to career guidance. A career and education guidance facilitator shall be engaged  for the district to ensure proper opportunities are exposed to students to pursue higher education and career
2. With support of SBI 2 days in every month is designated for preferential banking services for women. SBI Noklak will be providing services to Women and Students during Second and fourth Wednesday of every month.
3. 1 Day shall be designated as Women’s health services day at District Hospital to ensure that women from remote villages are able to avail comprehensive services related to well being, including that of counseling, gynecological, surgical and diagnostic services.
4. To ensure institutionalized support for continuation of education for all aspiring drop outs, the establishment of NIOS and IGNOU centers shall be taken up on priority
5. To provide support for dropout students especially girls, a vocational training centre shall be established in the district under the aegis of BBBP. The centre shall function round the year to ensure training to all aspiring candidates. The successful candidates shall be considered for micro credit for setting up own entrepreneurship initiative.
6. School Teachers shall be trained in adolescent health with support of FPA India to ensure awareness generation among adolescent. Anganwadi workers shall also be trained to ensure that they act as advocates of health promotion.
7. The forum resolved to undertake special scholarship scheme for supporting education of well performing students with limited financial resources to continue education. Priority shall be given to Girls who have performed well in class X or Class XII
8. To address the problem of transport of patients especially that of women in need, an Ambulance shall be procured through CSR for Women HoHo and the responsibility of operation and maintenance shall be that of KMH
9. To promote agricultural marketing and transport, agri-maketing truck and Taxi services owned and operated by Women HOHO shall be taken up through CSR
10. To address the problem of shortage of cost effective sanitary napkins, support shall be rendered to KMH for procuring a manufacturing unit through CSR
11. To address the problem of potable water and waterborne diseases, KMH shall be supported to establish a reverse Osmosis plant initially at Town HQ
12. To ensure comfort to travelers bound to Noklak, pay and use public toilets shall be constructed at major transport nodes
13. KBCA with support of KGOA shall try to establish a Career Counseling and Competitive exam Training Centre to ensure education initiative sustainability and to provide best of services to the students in need, with an approach to run the centre for a minimum of 10 years
14. KMH in collaboration with SBI, Noklak resolved to provide micro credits of 5000 to 20000 to genuine women beneficiaries to undertake agricultural related activities including that of piggery, backyard poultry and mushroom cultivation. The repayment period shall be around 4 years with a nominal monthly repayment of around of RS 500 or less depending on the amount availed.
15. Regarding the empowerment and entrepreneurship initiative the forum resolved to strive to establish a Livelihood Business Incubation Centre at the earliest.
16. The forum resolved to pursue CSR projects for NAWYEM – Noklak Artisan Women and Youth Empowerment Mission, an Initiative for ensuring sustainable skill and entrepreneurship generation
17. To address concern regarding movement of students to outside District in search of education, KMH shall register details of all students moved/moving out of the district for education who are not staying with their parents/immediate relatives.
18. With support of District Sports Association, to improve physical education and promote talents in sports and games, forum resolved to establish daily physical training sessions and weekly sport promotion training. Forum resolved to put efforts to promote promising candidates for their enrolment in appropriate sports institutions for polishing their talents.

            KMH was entrusted with responsibility to continuously pursue the initiative with respective stakeholders till proper outcomes are materialized and quarterly coordination meetings shall be conducted to ensure proper coordination and follow up.

 

                                                                                                (K.K. Chim, IA Noklak)