Students debate on ‘Nagas encourage women leadership’
Dimapur, March 8 (MExN): North East Institute of Social Science and Research (NEISSR) commemorated International Women’s Day 2018 along with the rest of the world on March 8 at the NEISSR Conference Hall, along with the international theme “Press for Progress”.
Delivering the speech, Sungjemtola Jamir, Asst. Professor, NEISSR said that the issue of women had been debated and tried for such a long decade. However, as in the case of Naga women as well faces the same plight, where women’s status had not been elevated and been consciously or unconsciously labelled as the ‘Second Standard’ citizens in the tradition and culture bonded society.
She said that “Naga women are not encouraged enough to partake leadership scopes. They are recognized special and equal in principle yet, have not been in practice for this long. As well relating to all personal levels, women are given lesser opportunities in comparison to men. Women are never included in the decision making as well as to the property.”
“Our social roles had been so rigid in lines with the customary and traditional rules and norms, it creates bigger gap to bridge the difference and thus, difficult to break the bondages and to create positive differences in the society,” she added.
She went on to say that there is always a societal misconception about the term ‘Feminism’, and clarified that, “women never fight to achieve superiority over men, yet had been striving to bring about equality and equity between men and women.”
As a part of the programme, a debate on the topic ‘Nagas encourage women leadership’ was organized and stresses on the various areas of concern. The panel debate threw light to various issues such as the rigidity of customary laws and traditional norms, the patriarchal culture, the still clinging male dominance over women in decision making etc, which have been the barriers for women development throughout.
The debate was moderated by Nepuni Paul Kolakhe, 2nd year MSW and adjudged by Dr Akatoli Chishi, Lecturer, Trinity Theological College, Thahekhu Village, Dr Deben Sharma and Amit Das, Asst. Professors of NEISSR.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by Chumdemo Odyuo and a special number presented by Odinensang Jamir. Vote of thanks was delivered by Sentiwati, President, Students’ Council for Social Change.
