Kohima, Jan. 5 (EMN): In its first gender-wise publication ‘Gender statistics 2016’ which was released on October 10, 2017, the directorate of economics and statistics has embarked on the exercise to collect and collate gender-wise disaggregate data.
Through the exercise, it hoped to consolidate reference for policy makers, institutions and persons and contribute to accelerating the progress towards achieving gender parity and equity between men and women through gender empowerment policies.
While highlighting the statistics relating to population, health, literacy, education, participation in economy, decision making and social obstacles in women’s empowerment, it has also highlighted the various special provision for women empowerment and initiatives for the state of Nagaland as under:
The Nagaland State Commission for Women: is a statutory body, constituted by the state government under the Nagaland Women Commission Act 2006 to investigate and examine all matters relating to women issues and also to safeguard the women provisions which was provided for women under the Constitution and other laws.
The Nagaland Municipal Act 2001, Amendment 2006: Reservation Bill for women, the 108 (Amendment) Act 2008 (women reservation bill) granting women ‘political rights’ is a positive step taken by the government to include women in decision making process.
Department of women resource development: the state government created the department of women resource development to give special focus on the socio-economic development of women and their resources and empowerment of women through various activities like awareness generation and capacity building, training and skill upgradation, promotion of rural and urban entrepreneurship, livelihood support intervention, institution building and formation, facilitation of credit and micro-financing and marketing-training, support and linkage.
The State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW): The State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW) is the implementing agency of the National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW). The SRCW provides institutional support to implement the activities of the mission of the state. The focus is to facilitate government and other stakeholders involved in women centric issues so as to implement gender sensitive programmes, laws and schemes through effectual coordination. The primary objective of the SRCW is to work for holistic empowerment of women in the state cutting across multiple sectors.
Maternity leave benefit: The state government through an office memorandum dated April 3, 2017 has enhanced the existing ceiling of 90 days of maternity leave under CSS (leave) Rules, 1792 to 180 days for the female state government employees.
Nagaland Vision 2030: in the vision 2030 document, specific chapters caption as ‘Gender mainstreaming’ has been included highlighting gender-based disadvantages issues and suggesting various steps for empowerment of women especially steps for ensuring participation of women in decision making and leadership roles.
