Can anybody remain quite when the normal office proceedings are not followed systematically??? Please read it with positive attitude.
I am giving this press release not because I am a Southern Naga, Eastern Naga, Western Naga or Nagaland Naga but I am a Naga by birth, by blood and my identification is I am a daughter of a Naga parents therefore, I am a bonafide Naga and a bonafide citizen of Nagaland. I trust and believe that God knew me even before I was born on this earth and since that time He knew that I will be an Advocate and a Social worker in our Naga Society. He already knew the challenges that I am facing today. I trust that this is our Almighty God’s Plan. I am unworthy in His eyes but He never failed me and He will never fail me even in future.
And today I am compelled to clarify certain issues prevailing in the Naga Women Hoho, Dimapur (NWHD). This issue is a social issue which every citizen should be aware and we need to improve ourselves in order leave in peace. In fact, our society needs an ethical leadership in this crucial time.
I would to like begin my point in this manner. In the 2007, I was nominated by the search committee to be in the office bearer of Naga Women Hoho, Dimapur, as a General Secretary for five years term from 23rd June 2007 to 23rd June 2012. At the moment my term is over and waiting for the Search Committee’s report. I have given my best effort within my best capacity for 5 years and I have no intention of involving directly in NWHD, although I will continue to be a social worker through C-Cerp (Care Centre for Environment and Rural Poor) in different capacity.
At the moment whatever files and records are with me along with my Secretarial Report I am ready to hand over to the next new team. The Office Bearers were dissolved on that day, the 6th Nov. 2012, at 3 pm, the moment the Sessional Chairperson and Secretary was selected and took over their Chairs. The term of office bearers ends at that moment. The power and authority automatically falls on the Sessional Chairperson and Secretary.
The formation of Search Committee- The fact that on10th July 2012, the House has resolved to give 3 months duration to the search committee to find a new team which is recorded in Resolution 2 of our meeting minutes dated 10/07/12. However, fortunately or unfortunately the Committee has taken 3 months and 26 days to complete their task. I have high respect for the Search Committee Convenor Mrs. Khrieleno Terhiija. She is an elderly mother who has wide experience in disciplining younger generations in the past. But today I have to state the fact because I was also disciplined by my elders, religious leaders and teachers. Who taught me not to be afraid of speaking the truth. Convenor of the Search Committee have not ask for extension of time. She might have forgotten to do that sometimes it is human nature to make mistakes. We dont have to be very strict if the House agrees but the fact is that although I have mentioned about it in the meeting on 6th Nov. 2012, but somehow it was not discussed further. If we have to follow strictly with the normal rules and proceedings of a normal NGOs or any other Organization they can be disqualified. However, in our case I feel that had we discussed the matter there is always space for consideration. I am stating this matter because the convenor herself said we should be very strict with our rules and regulation. I always believe that we should practice with what we preach or teach to others.
Office Functioning of Naga Women Hoho, Dimapur 23rd June to 23rd June 2012- Pertaining to the prevailing issue in our office I humbly appeal to all our Naga Women let us not divert our attention to other unrelated issue it will lead to unnecessary problems. Let us not mix up with other issue that has no connection. There will be peace in our society if we solve our problem sincerely and honestly. If the leaders run away from the problem or divert the issue to something else we still lack the ethical quality of a leader and we are not fit to be a leader. The real issue which is disturbing us with the NWHD office functioning system and nothing beyond that. I know it because of my role as a secretary for 5 years. I request everyone to understand that this issue is not tribalism, it is not relatives or khandans/clans or with any other tribe unit women organization but I repeat again it is purely unsystematic office functioning of NWHD which had become too difficult to tolerate. I have tolerated for 5 years and I thought the 5th Year would be improve the functioning system because the term is ending and all the records needs to be set right but it has become worse and which is beyond my expectation. For a good cause being a member of a team I have tried my best to remind our President, certain procedure which is necessary to follow but it was just a futile exercise.
The problem of the office of Naga Women Hoho, Dimapur, as a General Secretary I can rightly state that it is not a personal problem but it is a problem with the Office normal Proceedings which was not followed throughout our term. I want to make it very clear that I have no hatred or enmity against anybody or any tribe in this regard. I am facing very serious problem just because a simple normal system of an organization was not followed. That is why there is a crisis in our organization.
The following are the issues which were not followed during the 5 years term 23rd 2007 to 23rd 2012 :-
(1) There was no yearly/annual audit during our 5 years term.
(2) Final audit of 5 years term was not conducted according to the right proceeding. After strong reminder on 29th August 2012, three Audit members are selected by the office bearers. However, after a gap of 55 days on 26th October 2012, she telephone them to sign at the eleventh hour without giving them access to the bills, receipts, cash memos, financial record, etc, etc. She is supposed to direct call for a sitting being an ex-officio of the committee but she never did. Through some source I got information that one of the audit member have not signed because it was not done according to the right proceedings.
(3) Copies of audited statements are not given /supplied to 4 office bearers. I have no idea whether it was supplied to Vice President and Treasurer. But 2 Joint Secretaries, Information Secretary and General Secretary are ignorant about it. The audit report was not brought to the House for approval which is a normal practice of all the organization.
(4) The list of contribution made by all the tribe unit and individuals for the expenses of Court cases on 33 % Women Reservation in Municipality was submitted to her but we are in the dark. Although I have reminded her number of times that I need to document it because it is very important for our historical record. The normal proceeding is that it is the Secretary’s responsibility to keep all the documents and record for documentation. It is mentioned clearly in Article III Clause (1) of the Constitution, for that matter it is the normal proceeding of every organization.
(5) The Office bearers of NWHD have no idea about the total amount of contribution made by the Tribe Unit and individuals for the court case expenses of 33% Women Reservation case. There is no iota of transparency in the office.
(6) Undemocratic practice and unethical practice committed on 16th March 2012, ‘Submission of list of candidates list in JACWR’ without following the Guidelines of the JACWR discussed on 1st November 2011 at LCS Building, Kohima. On that day the President submitted the list of DMC candidate for Women Reservation on 16th March 2012. No screening committee was formed. The submitted names were not screened. It so happened that the submitted list of names are all from 5 major tribes for 8 municipal wards of Dimapur District Reserved for Women candidate. This issue was made known to the Convenor of JACWR on 24th March 2012 through a written Complaint letter addressed to the Convenor of JACWR, Kohima. However, the Convenor has sent a letter dated 30th March 2012, to the President about the withdrawal of the list of names which was submitted on 16th March but received only on 26th sept.2012 at 10.52:46 pm it was sent by e-mail in my e-mail account. I received it and printed out the email letter on 27th Sept.2012 and have passed it to the president.
It is painful and disappointing that within our women’s group even before the clear verdict and actual implementation of Women’s Reservation, our own Naga sisters/women started this type of undemocratic practices and injustice towards the other women who are in the category of minority tribe. Even among the Minority tribe there are capable women, who are experienced and who possess the quality of a true leadership. Can any right thinking citizen tolerate this type of injustice and undemocratic practice in our Naga Society??
(7) Directorate of Women Development Department, Government of Nagaland: Kohima has partnered all the 11 District Women Apex Organizations to coordinate with them in the implementation of all the developmental schemes for the cause of destitute widows, women entrepreneurs and women who are Socio-ecomically weak. This program was entrusted to us in the year 2009. During the initial stage I have assisted our Coordinator in maintaining records and documents of the said program. However, in the office bearers meeting on 15/8/12 at our office, our president has suggested for work distribution and accordingly the office bearers have resolved to hand over the files and records to the Coordinator who is also the Joint Secretary no.1 of NWHD. (NWHD has 2 Joint Secretaries in order to differentiate I have mentioned no.1 & no.2). It was also resolved that the Joint Secretary No.2 and Vice President will assist the Coordinator. And as such Women Development project files and records which consist of 15 numbers was hand over to Coordinator on 3 /09/12, signatures appended by President and Secretary in the meeting record on the same day. As far as my knowledge is concerned the Projects funded by women development department are as follows:- (1) Yearly Payment of Destitute Women Pension Scheme. (2) Piggery Scheme for destitute Widow. (3) Micro entrepreneur development initiative. (4) Chief Ministers Corpus Fund. And the fifth project one is on “Promotion of Women in innovative Enterprise Scheme” which seems to be the latest project but initially this was not announced / informed to the office bearers or the House. I came to know about it only when an Official of Women Development Department: Kohima asked me about the progress of that new Project which was supposed to be verified by our team. Some of us have also shared the importance of making a routine so that every one can adjust their schedule and get involve in the project work but our President has paid any heed to it. Although it was supposed to be a team work others are left out. Is this Justice??
(8) According to the normal practices and proceedings of an organization the General Secretary is to record every activity carried out by its organization. Sine 23rd June 2012, it was not done so I text her on 4th October 2012my text (“My only request to you is if you can call an office Bearer’s meeting before annual session any time after your work is done. But please inform st least 2 days in advance so that every one of us will be well informed whatever we are reporting in the annual session. It is just a reminder to you being a general secretary, don’t take otherwise, thank you”). But she has ignored the most important task to be done by an organization before the annual session. I have also requested her to allow me to record all the Women Development Projects and Schemes which was implemented by our office as PNGO (Partner NGO to Women Development Department, Government of Nagaland.) and which is very important for my Secretarial report but access to the project records and files is denied to me. She replied through text message that she will do the report by herself. When I asked her whether she had done she said she has submitted to Women Development Department. She seems to have not understood the proceedings of an Organization even after explanations and after reading out the sample which I have documented a General report in the presence of the office bearers on 26th September 2012. It is a surprise for keeping the project files and record in the dark.
(9) I have handed over the records to the Coordinator in the presence of other members on 3rd Sept. 2012, but I found out that the Coordinator was not handling the records instead it was handled by Vice President.
(10) I have many weaknesses and sort comings but as a General Secretary I am well aware about my responsibilities and I know well what I should record and document for NWHD during my tenure. But with deep regret I have to state today that those files and records concerning Women Development Department’s programs and 33 % Women Reservation’s Contribution made by tribal unit and various individuals are denied to a General Secretary. As for other general activities report I have done my job of documentation now and the file is closed.
In our present society it has become so difficult to stand for truth and honesty. If one try to be sincere and upright they are branded as over smart, or a person who thinks she or he is always right. It is like swimming in strong water current. Nobody is perfect in this world and I know well that I have my own weaknesses. When anyone stand for truth or point out the truth for the cause of the society it does not mean that he/she is over smart or trying to dominate others. It does mean that the one who remind to do what is right know everything. It may not be right to take it personal and sometimes there are threats or warnings to whoever speak out or disagree to wrong systems. Such type of attitude is unethical for a leader in our society. I greatly appreciate the Ahuna Papuh’s Statement in his Speech yesterday during the AHUNA Festival reminding the crowd “Pen is mightier than the sword”. It is an old proverb and contains lot of meaning in it which is still applicable in our society. Let us understand it clearly and follow it in principle.
Lastly, my humble appeal to all our Naga women is,- there are lots of capable and upright women in our Naga Society they should be given a chance to serve the society. It is important to select leaders in rotation basis because our society consists of different Naga Tribe. Why don’t we give chance to other women who are capable and who are settled in Dimapur and have registered under NWHD, they too are bonafide member of Naga Women Hoho. We are all Christian women leaders but we always bring divisions among us that is exactly how we are diverting our attention from the actual issue. While selecting a leader we must shed away our isms and bias attitude in this modern era. It is important to choose a capable leader with quality otherwise we will regret with shame. Remember, divisions and isms have brought bloodshed in our society. If we women are shouting shed no more blood and women have shed enough tears. Then why don’t we also shed our isms and stop saying Southern, Eastern, Western and Central Nagas. We are all blind with isms. Isms have blocked God’s wisdom which we are supposed to receive from God that is why we are unable to choose a right leader. Let us remind ourselves today that Christianity has no division and our society needs an ethical women leader. In case anybody is not happy with this article please forgive me. Deep in my heart I felt that I should be an agent for a good cause and I need to write in this manner because of our present situation which compelled me to write.
(This article is contributed by Mrs. Liangsi Niumai John, A Naga Advocate and a Social Activist. It is with good intention and with sincere desire to bring a change in our Naga Society. Thank You)
