Recipient of 13th Peace Knit Fest, Seno Tsuhah with others during the function held at NEISSR, Conference Hall, Dimapur on September 21. (Photo Courtesy: Peace Channel)
Dimapur, September 22 (MExN): In recognition of her contributions towards addressing issues of women rights, good governance, natural resource management and sustainable livelihood in Nagaland, Seno Tsuhah was conferred with 13th Peace Knit Fest.
The award was conferred by Peace Channel in commemoration of the Foundation Day cum 13th Peace Knit Fest held at North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR), Conference Hall, Dimapur on September 21.
Seno Tsuhah is a member of North East Network. She has 20 years of experience working with grassroots communities of Nagaland particularly women, in mobilizing and organizing, awareness raising, capacity building, research and documentation and advocacy. Her engagement with ecological issues ranges from strategic policy advocacy with village institutions, state, regional and national networks, to mobilizing young people in cultural and environmental audio visual documentation and enabling women farmers in strengthening the practice of ecological farming and sustainable livelihoods.
Seno Tsuhah in her acceptance speech said that she accepts the award on behalf many thousands of women with whom she travelled together - resilient women farmers who practice ecological agriculture, women artisans, women vendors, community elders and custodian knowledge holders who have been sustaining lives.
She acknowledged the contribution and role of these community people who continue to share the message of acknowledged the contribution and role of these community people who continue to share the message of peace by passing down traditional knowledge to the younger generation and building inter-generational solidarity.
She further expressed her hope in taking forward the society when we have good leaders in the government, faith based organisations and other many institutions. She called on the need to come together collectively in order to build peace in the world.
“The world needs healing, not just people but our planet- mother earth, and more than any other time, during this pandemic crisis, we need to reconcile and make peace with mother earth,” she asserted.
Earlier, Director of Peace Channel, Dr Fr CP Anto in the welcome notes briefed about the 2020 theme for International Day of peace – ‘Shaping Peace Together.’
Dr Anto urged the congregation to celebrate the day by spreading ‘compassion, kindness and hope’ in the face of the pandemic and appealed to the society to build peace and reconciliation with all conflicting parties and promote dialogue to settle the differences.
“As Peace Channel has been focused to build peace among children though peace clubs, youth though peer mediation and adult through peace team forum, if we work consistently and systematically we can together make Nagaland a most peaceful state in the country by 2030,” he stated.
Gracing the event as special guests, Avonuo Kire, EAC, Dimapur appreciated Peace Channel for their initiatives.
Encouraged by the interfaith meet, the EAC said, “In the society as diverse as Dimapur, in the true spirit of pluralism representatives of every religion should give them a voice at the sit in the table.” She believes that coming together and having conversations even debates that is how we come to understand each other.
She expressed hope that this inter faith meet shares perspectives, ideas, “hoping that we will discuss ways to tackle pandemic because what we are seeing this time is that there is a lot of fear, discrimination against frontline workers, returners, COVID-19 positive patients and their family.”
“The religious leaders should play a major role in making people understand and show compassion to people. 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us but on the contrary it has giving us a chance to retrospect and access our priorities and look into our mental health,” she stated.
The other highlights of the day included Peace Award ceremony, Inter Faith meet and launching of Peace Channel Publications.
A press release from the Peace Channel Desk stated that the session was moderated by Vitono Haralu, Trainer cum Consultant. Temsuyala Longkumer did a reading from different scriptures; the occasion was graced with lightning of the lamp by Special Guest Avonou Kire, EAC, Development Dimapur along with Director of Peace Channel Dr Fr CP Anto, Project Manager Garrol Lotha and other religious leaders.
