Dimapur, August 15 (MExN): As part of its goal to promote the welfare of women, children and aged people in the state, the government of Nagaland today highlighted several initiatives it has taken in building up this section of the society. On the occasion of the Independence Day celebration in Dimapur, T R Zeliang, Minister for Planning & Coordination, Evaluation and Parliamentary Affairs, said that the government has been promoting entrepreneurial activities for women development.
“Women are being empowered through schemes like ‘women entrepreneurial development’ initiatives,” Zeliang pointed out. He also said school dropout girls are being trained in tailoring, knitting and weaving through the training cum production centre scheme. Economically empowering women through food processing schemes, Zeliang said, are six cluster food processing units at Dimapur, Medziphema, Zubza, Kigwema, Chiephobozou and Jalukie where women are making earnings. The Minister further said the state is seriously processing the mainstreaming of Gender Budgeting as an effective tool for women empowerment.
In the social welfare sector, the government has established eight new posts of district programme officers in eight districts of the state, Zeliang announced, which will become functional soon. In addition to that, he also pointed out the new projects and establishment of 261 new Angawadi centres in the state. Zeliang further said that old age pensioners of the state were availing a sum of Rs.300 per month, and announced that two new schemes, namely the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme, will be implemented during the next financial year. The government is also paying special focus on the disabled, he added.
Welfare schemes for ex-servicemen and serving soldiers are also in place, the Minister said and that the government is looking into their resettlement programmes effectively.
