Mrs. Kevinourheno Seyie, AWO President talking to Vibou Ganguly, Journalist
Vibou Ganguly: Hello Mrs. Kevinourheno Seyie, so you are the president of Angami Women Organisation and I thank you for sparing of your time for this interview.
Kevinourheno Seyie: You are welcome. I am proud to be serving as the president of Angami Women Organisation.
V.G.: When did you join office as the President?
K.S.: Since October 2004.
V.G.: Who are the members of your association?
K.S.: Every Angami Woman is a member to this organisation.
V.G.: How old is your Organisation?
K.S.: The Angami Women Organisation was formed in the year 1980; therefore, it is now 27 years old.
V.G.: We see that AWO is one of the most active and successful NGOs in the State. What is your strength?
K.S.: Our unity is our strength. We share perfect harmony and understanding amongst office bearers as well as the executive body. This mutual trust strengthens us and urges us to do social work in spite of heavy responsibilities at home.
V.G.: Please enlighten us on the guiding lines or general goals the AWO works for.
K.S.: We work for fostering reconciliation, promotion of unity and better understanding amongst the communities, eradication of social evils, social economic upliftment, work culture for self-reliance, women health and education, women empowerment, preservation of customs, traditional values and practices.
V.G.: Please highlight some activities of the AWO.
K.S.: AWO designs its activities at all round development, over and above women health is our number one priority. Conducting seminars on women health, medical camps and awareness programmes on TB/HIV/AIDS etc, form part of our regular programme.
As part of our women literacy programme, we have proposed to set up a computer center having four branches in the four Angami Regions – Chakhro, Southern, Northern and Western. The sanction for this computer center has already been made by the GOC IGAR (North), and we will be receiving the computers within this month.
To foster economic independence the AWO organizes a Sales Day every year along with Workshops and also provides vocational trainings to deserving women on (a) stuffed doll making (b) Pot paintings (c) Tie and dye (d) Floriculture (e) Handloom of all kinds (f) basket weaving (g) Food preparation and preservation and the likes.
Aiming at promotion of cultural values as well as improved socio-economic standards, we are bringing out many new designs on shawls and mekhelas.
Proposals on a shuttle loom project for handloom weaver’s development is also on the pipeline.
To encourage organic farming and use of latest technologies in Agriculture and Horticulture, we are conducting seminars and study tours. The response from the womenfolk has been overwhelming and we feel rewarded. Most pressing activity at hand is the Rs 3 crores building project on a plot the Government has been pleased to allot. The idea of the proposed building is to have a “City Shopping Center” and a conference hall at Kohima.
V.G.: That is a gigantic programme indeed! What is your plan for its materialization?
K.S.: Today we have about 18 lacs raised through donations, sale of pineapples, weaving of bags and sale, sale of Modi, etc. We also have brought out an Angami Cultural Photo Album, which is a catalogue of more than a hundred photos of various cultural dresses and domestic items with names and descriptions. Selling at Rs.300 per copy, we are hopeful that the public will cooperate with us and help us by buying them.
This project has two goals:-
1. To raise fund for the building and
2. To preserve our costumes and traditions before it dissolves in this generation of ours. Our plan is to raise 57 lacs more locally, and remaining Rs.2.25 crores, we intend to pursue a soft loan from the NEC.
V.G.: It is truly inspiring the magnanimity of the work your organisation is doing. How difficult is it being a woman?
K.S.: It is definitely tough though not impossible. As woman, the primary task is the nurture of home. Before you make time for your society, you first have to get your children ready for school, look after your guests, do or supervise the cooking and washing, etc. The only time you get to think and plan for your work is only after everyone else is in bed.
V.G.: Is there a special message to convey?
K.S.: Yes, I urge every woman to know her worth and role in society, starting from her family.
The quality and temper of a family depends a great deal on the mother. Women have great strength by the power of that unbreakable bond between every child with his mother. She is capable of touching and softening a child’s heart. By this power she can help to remove a lot of violence, corruption and injustice that prevails in today’s society.
Building of a home is a woman’s specialty and this, I believe, is the greatest act of nation building. Nation is not greater than the family, because family begets nation. When the families are changed, the society is changed, and when the societies are changed, the nation is changed. So if you want to have a changed society or nation, start the change from your family.
Thank you.
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