DIPR
WOKHA, AUGUST 7
The department of Women Resources Development conducted a review meeting with PNGOS and SUB-PNGOS at Directorate of Women Resources Development conference hall, Kohima today.
The Parliament Secretary for Women Resources Development & Border Affairs, N. Thomas Lotha was the chief guest.
Speaking at the function, Thomas said that his department has started a road map for positive changes among the Naga women, in partnership with the Govt. of India, UN and the State government. He asked the 11 district Women Apex Bodies to voice out and bring about changes in the society for the benefits of the Naga women.
The Parliamentary Secretary also informed that under the department of Women Resource Development, solar lighting system will be installed in the rural areas within 2-3 months and added that bio-gas would be given to the rural people. Thomas apprised that health care programme especially for rural women with cervical cancer will be implemented in the State for which a team of cancer experts will be visiting the state.
In this regard, he informed that the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi assured that she would launch the programme when Nagaland starts it. Therefore, he urged upon the women organizations to be more active and show good participation. He informed that a proposal for construction of a Women Hostel at Delhi is under consideration with the Ministry.
He felt that Self Help Groups should be organized into a federation, which should play an effective role and be instrumental in the Micro finance schemes. He said that he was making direct contacts with the UN forum for highlighting the problems of Naga women. Chief Minister of Nagaland,
T.R. Zeliang assured to extend cooperation to Naga women for bringing changes. The Parliamentary Secretary also gave away the grant-in-aid to the various women organizations for their office expenses.
Additional Director Women Resource Development, T. Haralu gave a power point presentation where he said that mandate of women department would be to ‘strive towards economic empowerment of women in Nagaland’, through a revolving fund support to women entrepreneurs by creating and extending credit mechanism and facilities, under the enterprises programme to give fillip to the aspiring women entrepreneurs and as a part of the socio-economic empowerment process for the women in the state.
He said that to achieve these ends, an interest free loan of Rs. 5 lakhs has been extended to 38 innovative women entrepreneurs. He quoted Mahatma Gandhi who said that “when you educate a man you educate one, but when you educate a woman, you educate the whole family”.
The programme was chaired by Director Women Resource Development, Neilavou Keditsu while short speech on behalf of PNGOs was given by President KNSK. One of the members of Border Area Employees Project shared their grievances.
Deputy Secretary for Women Resource Development also attended the programme. During the programme, seven computer sets were given to various women organizations and other organisations would be given in the next phase.
