It took 38-year-old Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, six days to announce an immediate plan to change the nation’s gun policy after a gunman inhumanely shot 50 people at two mosques in Christchurch. The prime minister is expected to encounter little resistance in parliament. The new law could be enacted as early as mid April. Her swift decisive action is an example of the capabilities of female leaders in times of crisis. Ms Ardern is but one of many female leaders around the world making waves of change.
The infamous Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, the longest serving Prime minister of Bangladesh Sheik Hasina, the first female prime minister of Denmark Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the first elected female president of state in Africa Ellen Johnson Sirleaf are some of the powerful female leaders the world has seen.
Nagaland celebrated its 55th year of statehood in 2018. And though there have been a number of influential female political leaders, not one female candidate has won the race against her male counterparts in the state assembly elections. Niece of Naga Nationalist Leader AZ Phizo, Rano M Shaiza was the first woman president of the United Democratic Party and was the sole woman to win the elections and represent Nagaland in parliament (Lok Sabha).
Though one cannot deny that there are positive strides being taken towards female empowerment in Nagaland. 2018 saw the highest number of female candidates in the State’s history, a total of 5 women contested, however this number only made up 2.56 % of the total number candidates who stood for elections.
The now ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party fielded one female candidate, the National People’s Party set up two, one woman was fielded by Bharatiya Janata Party and one independent female candidate too was in the running. Whilst the then incumbent Naga People’s front did not field any woman candidate.
The Lok Sabha elections and state assembly by-elections for 26 Aonglenden constituency are upon us. Till date not one female candidate has been fielded by the parties in the state nor is there an independent female candidate willing to fight the fight. What is amiss in our state? Is it our archaic customary laws? Is it the lack of support from both family and community? Perhaps it’s time to place some female leaders in elected seats and see what women are capable of.
The world has shown and continues to show examples of empowered, capable, decisive female leaders. Why has Nagaland not yet elected a female candidate? Why are more women not contesting? Even mother India has 61 women in the Lok Sabha and 28 women in the Rajya Sabha.
