ATMA functionaries trained on gender sensitization module

I/C Director SAMETI & Principal IETC Dr Watimongla Jamir along with the participants and DPDs at SAMETI, Medziphema held at SAMETI, Medziphema from November 18 and 20. (Photo Courtesy: SAMETI)

Medziphema, November 22 (MExN): State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) organised two-day training programme on “Gender sensitization module for empowerment of women entrepreneurs, SHGs and farmers” for ATMA functionaries at SAMETI, Medziphema from November 18 and 20.

The training programme was aimed at sensitising extension agents working at the grassroots level on gender issues and also about the important role played by women in society in general and Agriculture in particular. 

Resource persons for the training was Dr. Watimongla Jamir, Incharge Director SAMETI & Principal IETC, Department of Agriculture covered topics on need for gender sensitization, entrepreneurship development among rural women, mobilization of women resources, role of women in Agriculture, SHG – an approach for eliminating poverty through women empowerment and Nagaland state draft policy for empowerment of women. Practical exercise on all the topics was conducted. 

Director SAMETI & Principal IETC spoke about the importance of starting gender sensitization at the home front, where there should be no disparity in the field of education and decision making between the girl and boy child. She gave a brief overview of some important schemes for women operating at both the national and regional levels. She concluded by remarking that men ought to be sensitised as much as women about gender issues so as to become more sensitive to such issues, while women need to break out of traditional stronghold and work towards empowering themselves in different fields.

Unity SHGs from Medziphema block under Dimapur district shared their success stories which initially started Banana farm with the seed money of Rs 10,000 from ATMA, Dimapur. It was a Successful Interaction between participants and SHGs.

 Altogether, 22 ATMA functionaries from all the eleven districts of Nagaland attended the training programme. Certificates and training handouts were also distributed to all the participants. The valedictory function was chaired by Tiajungla DPD SAMETI, while feedback on the training was given by trainees from 11 districts. Vote of thanks was delivered by Vikaho Chophi DPD SAMETI.