Kohima, October 30 (MExN): Gender mainstreaming as a key component under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) is taking off in a major way with Nagaland being one among four states to pilot the process through the Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission.
In this regard, an orientation workshop on Gender Operational Strategy Roll-out was held at Hotel Vivor, Kohima on October 25 along with field visits to Mokokchung and Jakhama Block, Kohima respectively. A visit was made by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India for assessing readiness and roll-out.
A press release received here informed that the resource persons were Usha Rani, Lead, IB/CB, HR & Gender, NMMU, NRLM; Seema Bhaskaran, Mission Manager, Gender, NRLM; Asha Ramesh, National Resource Person on Gender, Nagaland in-charge; Surekha Reddy, Mission Manager, NIRD&PR, NRLM cell, Hyderabad.
Gender as cross-cutting factor in uplifting women
Delivering the keynote address during the workshop, Azenuo Pienyü, Addl. Mission Director, NRLM Nagaland noted that gender as a cross-cutting factor in uplifting women especially in rural areas is key to the Mission’s endeavours and therefore should be taken up with concerted efforts right from policy makers to grassroots workers. She underscored the need to implement gender mainstreaming in all areas so as to ensure inclusive and target-oriented interventions to mitigate challenges pertaining to women.
This was followed by M. Rollan Lotha, COO (Programs) NSRLM who presented the status of NRLM programme implementation, with focus on gender integration as cross cutting activity under various thematics of the State Mission. The program was chaired by Khriezovonuo Lhoungu, SPM (KMC & Gender).
Operational strategy on gender under NRLM
Delivering a speech on operational strategy on gender under NRLM, Usha Rani stressed on the need to bring in women in decision-making processes and policy changes. She said a first step towards this direction is to include the most vulnerable sections so as to give a sense of identity, solidarity and assurance of access to entitlements. She said gender policies ought to coexist with plans and programs of the government at various levels and in the context of NRLM, gender mainstreaming has to begin with the staff at all mission management units.
During the course of the interactive workshop, the resource persons also apprised the trainees on the importance of integrating gender in all programmatic components and engaging key stakeholders in the implementation process. A series of sensitization of key stakeholders and training of cutting edge staff and community cadres would be conducted during the following months for rolling out of gender mainstreaming.
In Mokokchung, a meeting was held with the Watsü Mungdang, the apex women organization of Ao, where a number of pertinent issues on status of women in Nagaland were discussed. In Jakhama, Kohima a meeting was held with the Japfüphiki Thenuko, Block Level Federation committee members where issues on status of women as well as role of federations on gender were discussed. The purpose of the field visits is to better understand the status as well as areas of interventions required in rural areas of Nagaland so as to come up with operational strategies and manuals accordingly.
Earlier, the State Rural Livelihoods Mission, Nagaland had participated in the national level preparatory workshop held at NIRD& PR, NRLM cell in Hyderabad organized by MoRD.
