NLA speaker Sharingain Longkumer addressing ‘Evidence based policy consultation on enabling women entrepreneurship’ in Kohima on February 18. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 18
Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) speaker Sharingain Longkumer today lauded the women entrepreneurs of Nagaland for their participation and contribution towards the socio-economic development of the state.
Speaking at the ‘Evidence based policy consultation on enabling women entrepreneurship in Nagaland’ here at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima, Longkumer said that the state government is working as to how to empower women and enhance socio-economic development through the participation of women. He also called upon the women entrepreneurs to put forward recommendations/suggestions so that the government can incorporate the same in policy decision.
When it comes to policy making, he said that unless the women entrepreneur bodies share their requirements the government will not know it. In this, Longkumer asked the women entrepreneur bodies to share their requirements which they feel the government need to focus and enable the government to frame a good and sound policy for women entrepreneurs.
Further, he invited women entrepreneurs to experience the proceeding of the forthcoming budget session of Nagaland Legislative Assembly, starting from March 19 to 25.
‘Naga women have entrepreneurial quality’
Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) CEO Alemtemshi Jamir maintained that entrepreneurship is nothing new to Naga women, citing their engagement in the various business activities in the state.
Maintaining that Naga women have entrepreneurial quality, he asked them to come together and ready to start as a movement.
Asking Naga women entrepreneurs to make a change, Jamir said the world needs more compassion and more women leaders as they have more sensitivity.
Jamir also challenged women entrepreneurs to build up their strength “so that we can go very far ahead.”
Meanwhile, he was optimistic that today’s conclave would pay huge dividends, not only in recognizing women entrepreneurship in the state but will pave the way for the coming age of women in business.”
Julia Karst, head project Her & Now, GIZ said that this stakeholder consultations were fundamental in understanding all the ongoing efforts to promote women entrepreneurship in Nagaland, and the insight that “ we have gleaned will now help us develop comprehensive policy recommendations on how to take women entrepreneurship in Nagaland to the next level.”
Thanking everyone for their contribution and high-quality engagement, she looks forward to initiating the implementation of the policy recommendations, and creating an even more enabling women entrepreneurship ecosystem in Nagaland, jointly with its partners.
Anirban Gupta, Co-founder, Dhriiti described this consultation as a historic event in the space of women entrepreneurship in Nagaland and one of its kind in the country.
“I also feel that if all the stakeholders together can mobilize effective policy towards supporting women entrepreneurship in Nagaland, this would be a model for the other states and the country to emulate. This would also empower our women entrepreneurs from the state to build a financially strong and safer society. Let us all be a part of this revolution in the making,” Gupta said.
Ullas Marr of GIZ also delivered virtual speech at the inaugural session.
This multi-stakeholder conclave was jointly organized by Project Her & Now (Deutsche Gesellschaft fiir Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH), Dhriiti and IDAN with an objective to create a policy whitepaper on women entrepreneurship eco-system of Nagaland through a stakeholder consultation process.
The consultation brought together the recommendations from not only the women entrepreneurs of Nagaland but also from the various financial institutions, business ecosystem players from across north east and the government departments of Nagaland.
'Celebrating WE- Role of Media'
Morung Express News
Kohima | February 18
Stating that there has been a seismic shift in the way people do business, Ayieno Kechu, Media Officer to CMO on Friday noted that a fair amount of this can be credited to social media. Speaking on the topic “Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs-Role of Media” at the Evidence Based Policy Consultation on enabling Women Entrepreneurship, a multi-stakeholder conclave at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima today, she impressed upon that entrepreneurs have thrived through and despite the pandemic especially with the use of social media.
With everyone’s primary audience online now, she said that people are spending more time online in this age while urging women entrepreneurs to use the basic available resources that are there on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. “If you know of women running businesses from home, promote them because it makes a lot of difference in pushing and promoting each other,” she said.
Another thing, she noted was that most Naga women entrepreneurs are first generation entrepreneurs and are often faced with the problem of traditional laws in the matters relating to procuring a loan. Expressing that it is particularly challenging for women in business, she impressed upon policy makers that women require a lot of handholding in terms of proposal writing, maintaining balance sheet, accounting, etc.
She further urged policy makers to invest in projects instead of grants and give subsidy and loans while putting across that the joy and satisfaction of working to repay the loans has a different high.
Ayieno Kechu also motivated the women entrepreneurs by saying, “let us not play with the women card narrative, because it is about our attitude and ability as an entrepreneur.” On how the media can promote this narrative, she added, “we would like to see more stories on women entrepreneurs.” She stated that the end result of the business is not that, but emphasized that the journey of an entrepreneur is equally important and should be highlighted.
