Amplifying voices of rural women

International Day of Rural Women celebrated in Phek town

Phek, October 15 (MExN): The vital role women play in sustaining rural households and communities, improving rural livelihoods and overall social well-being were underscored during the International Day of Rural Women (IDRW) event organised by the North East Network (NEN) on October 15.

To demonstrate its commitment towards amplifying the stories and voices of rural women (farmers, artisans, vendors), NEN organised the event by bringing together government agencies, women organisations, village leaders, CBOs, NGOs and the general public in an interface with rural women at Phek Town. The International Day of Rural Women (IDRW) also coincides with the National Women Farmers’ Day.

In a press release issued on Friday, NEN Programme Associate Munulu Chuzho stated that structural barriers and discriminatory social norms continue to constrain women’s decision-making power and political participation in rural households and communities. Barring a few exceptions, women and girls in rural areas lack equal access to productive resources and assets, public services, such as education and health care and these conditions have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“In the face of all of that, rural women have been at the front lines of responding to the pandemic even as their unpaid care and domestic work increased under lockdowns. Despite the exacerbating gender gaps in agriculture and food security, rural women substantially contribute towards ensuring food sufficiency, healthy food production, sustainability and self-sustenance of food in their communities,” it added.

As such, NEN took this occasion to call for action to support rural women and girls and grow their capacities to respond to climate change through sustainable food production and natural resource management. It also aimed at generating conversations on food production and consumption patterns that are healthy for people and our earth, the release stated.

Project Director of Rural Development, Phek, Razukhru Vasa who graced the occasion as the guest speaker, acknowledged women’s contribution to the family and society at large, and said that many women toil from morning to night while serving her family and society. In particular, he lauded the achievements of younger women who, he said, “are doing much better than their male counterparts in terms of education and career pursuits in recent times including employment in the Government sector.” He encouraged the younger women to seize the numerous career opportunities that are available for women and girls through various women oriented programmes. 

On the occasion, Vilazonuo Gloria, Programme Associate, NEN shared the research findings on Micronutrient Rich & Climate  Resilient Crops , a study  conducted by NEN in partnership with North East Slow Food for  Agrobiodiversity (NESFAS), Meghalaya  in 2018- 2020.  The finding highlighted the importance of indigenous foods for the nutritional security of communities. “Our community has a rich biodiversity however they are being neglected and unutilised,” the release quoted Gloria as saying.

Farmer and a woman leader from Pfutsero, Vekhotalu Lea shared her experience of the pandemic and her struggles as a mother to create space for her child’s education at home and also provide food, with limited resources through the lockdown. Amidst the pandemic lockdown, Lea, also a leader of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) also shared the story of their collective in organising their farmer-members’ agricultural produce and connecting it to their vendor-members at Kohima and Dimapur, who were struggling to eke out a living at both ends.

Women collectives such as SEWA have demonstrated their resilience and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the release stated.  

Another farmer, entrepreneur and women leader from Chizami village Wedele T Mero elucidated the need to protect and promote indigenous seeds and traditional knowledge in order to build a more sustainable and resilient community. She appealed to the Government to support initiatives such as community seed banks and diversity-based agriculture. While sharing the experience of Chizami where women are representing and participating in decision making bodies, she called on the need to include women in all decision-making processes. 

According to the release, the second session ‘Achieving Gender Inclusive and equitable Livelihood- A conversation on state programmes and schemes’ saw the participation of representatives from different departments.  Imsunaro, DDM, NABARD; Veposelu Naroh, District Coordinator DLCW, Mahila Shakti Kendra, Counsellor, SAKHI- One Stop Centre; Neilo Koza, AFA, Department of Agriculture; Dr Neilhouvou Thao, District Functional Specialist, District Mission Management Unit, from Phek District represented the various departments and shared about women centric programmes, ongoing schemes and resources which can be availed by women farmers. 

Other highlights of the event included a Women Farmers’ Market which saw the participation of 10 communities from Phek district with diverse products. The market provided a platform for the farmers to exhibit the rich agrobiodiversity of the district while they were able to generate an income. 120 farmers, government departments participated in the event where a photo exhibition and seed exhibition also generated a lot of interest amongst the participants, the release stated.