‘We did not give the ticket because she is a woman, though as per our manifesto, we stand with gender equality and we want to give equal opportunity to everyone,’ he said while citing her works for the youth.
Rio was addressing the campaign kick-off cum rally of NDPP candidate Hekani Jakhalu at Doyapur ground, where he also officially released her election manifesto.
He said a history will be created in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly if the two NDPP women candidates get elected.
He also mentioned that the result of the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) examination, which was held in November 2022, is being delayed due to the state general election.
The chief minister said that the state government is sandwiched between the Naga political groups and GoI on the protracted Naga issue. He added they had ‘tried to avoid the general election, because without a solution, Nagas are at a crossroads and it is a big burden in the hearts of the people as there is no real peace’.
He reiterated that the state’s 60 MLAs formed an all-party government for settlement of Naga issue but the Naga groups did not unite and the solution could not be arrived at due to many misunderstandings.
Cast your vote without fear — Jakhalu
Addressing the gathering, Jakhalu said that they have been living in fear for many years and this is the opportunity to get rid of it.
“Do not go to vote in fear but vote for whomever you want to vote for and whom you want to support,” she encouraged.
Sharing about her journey into politics, she said her dream was to be a lawyer when he was a student but it changed after listening to the problems of the youths in the state.
Jakhalu, who has been working with the youths for the last 17 years, said that she decided to contest the election in order to take the youths’ issues to the policy level. I got the party ticket and stand in this position only because of the love and support of many people, she added.
Stressing on her manifesto for 3 Dimapur-III A/C, she said that she is fighting for youth development, women empowerment, minority rights and model constituency.
She said the voice of the woman needs to reach the highest decision-making body, and that the state will move forward only if there is equal power between man and women.
To make Dimapur-II a model constituency, she plans to work on the education system. She asserted that it is the work of an MLA to check the education system, primary healthcare system, roads and other basic necessities in their respective constituencies.
Jakhalu went on to say that the vision is not only hers but is the dream of everyone in the constituency and it should be the fight of everyone.
Manifesto
Youth Empowerment: Establishment of youth resource centres for overall capacity building of youth; promotion of self-employment and entrepreneurship; skill development training for minimum 1000 youth on emerging sectors to address unemployment; development of various platforms and infrastructure for promotion of sports, arts, music, etc.; and setting up coaching scholarships for various job examination.
Women empowerment: Promotion of socio-economic inclusion and political participation of women; advocate for policies for girls ensuring equal access to education, training and employment opportunities; establishment of women-centric incubation for women entrepreneurs; implementation of central and state initiatives and schemes for women development; and promotion of SHGs for self-reliance.
Minority rights: To set up a minority culture centre to preserve and promote minority culture and heritage; youth resource centre for various capacity-building programmes; provide financial assistance to minority-run businesses; provide scholarships for meritorious students; and establish grievance cells for minorities.
Mode constituency: To form a steering committee to monitor development; construction of roads, drainage and various development infrastructure; drinking water facilities in all villages; proper functioning and monitoring of all government schools and healthcare centres; 100% coverage of health insurance scheme for eligible citizens; 100% coverage of below poverty line cards for deserving households; implementation of all government welfare scheme and programmes; Local Area Development fund to be utilised with 100% transparency for development purpose of the constituency; and to set up ‘Made in Nagaland’ centre to promote and market local products.
During the programme, short speeches were also delivered by SK Khemprai, former president of Kachari tribal council Nagaland; Kiesalie Thopi, former chairman of Bade village and working president of NDPP 3 Dimapur-III AC; and LK Achumi, head GB Luhevi Village. (Dimapur, EMN)