- First general
conference of Central Nagaland Women Association held in Mokokchung
Hekani Jakhalu
addressing the first CNWA general conference in Mokokchung on Friday.
- MOKOKCHUNG — Advisor of Industries &
Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu, on Friday warned that ongoing divisions among the
Nagas threaten the Naga political solution, and called upon women to play an
important role in bringing unity to the fragmented Naga society.
- The advisor was addressing the first general conference of
the Central Nagaland Women Association (CNWA) hosted by Watsu Mungdang at
Mokokchung’s town hall, which brought together around 1,000 delegates from the
Sumi Totimi Hoho, Lotha Eloe Hoho, and Watsu Mungdang.
- “Power struggles and egoism have fractured Naga society and
this infestation has even infiltrated churches today, fuelling more
factionalism and groups both in underground and overground,” Jakhalu observed,
and urged women to act as unifiers through empathy and forgiveness.
- Drawing inspiration from the Bible, she challenged the CNWA
to play the role of Easter in projecting hope, forgiveness and the
transformative power to unite the people of Nagaland, while cautioning against
emulating Jezebel's destructive path.
Watsu Mungdang
members presenting a song during the CNWA general conference in Mokokchung on
Friday.
- “We acknowledge our divisions and speak of unity, but often
resort to blame games, fostering disunity instead of self-reflection,” she
remarked, while urging women to heal these divides as empathetic wives,
daughters, and sisters.
- She also defended opposition in democracy as essential for
transparency and accountability. “Opposition is needed to ensure transparency,
check and balance” she said and called it “the healthiest form of governance.”
- “Nagas today are fighting for a political solution but when
our Naga people are divided and fragmented into many groups, solutions drift
away further instead of coming closer to us,” she commented.
- Echoing Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio statement that “all NLA
members should be one with one voice for the Naga Political problem for the
larger interest of the Naga society,” she urged women to play the role of
unifiers.
- Celebrating women’s breakthroughs in the Nagaland
Legislative Assembly, Jakhalu asserted that today women in Nagaland have
shattered the glass ceiling to be part of the decision making body of the NLA,
which has “made women more confident.”
- She also maintained that shattering glass ceiling does not
mean up-staging men, but to support and grow together as equals for positive
change in society.
- “Shattering the glass ceiling empowers our daughters,
children and girls never to think inferior but equally empowered to support men
and take our Naga society forward,” she said.
- The advisor also underscored that, “we don’t want to be
stagnant people but a community progressing on time with a realistic vision for
our future,” while identifying children as Nagaland’s greatest asset for
progress.
- “Our assets are our children, instil dignity of labour,
beyond government jobs to our children;
there are abundant opportunities but unless we make our children realize to
start small from the beginning then they will just be another burden for the
parents,” she said.
- “But if we keep our attitude right, let our children incarnate
hardwork culture to respect any type of works and to stand on their own feet at
an early stage, its ensures progress.”
- “Without hard work at our core, our future is bleak,”
Jakhalu added.
- Speeches were also delivered by CNWA president Atoli Sema,
Ao Senden general secretary Imtipokyim, CNTC president Khodao Ngully and
president of Watsu Mungdang.
- Meanwhile, a new team of CNWA office bearers for tenure
2025-2028 was installed. The new team includes Dr.Anungla Aier (President),
Zujano Patton (V/President), Mughaholi A Chopi (V/President), Lily Sumi
(G/Secretary), N Chumchanbeni Odyno (Jt. Secy.), Lily Longchar (Jt. Secy.),
Angelina Ngullie (Finance Secy.), Sashisongla (Cultural Secy.) Nitoli Sema
(I&P Secy.), and Jennifer T Awomi (Treasurer).
