Mokokchung, 25 July (MTNews): Member of Parliament from Nagaland S Phangnon Konyak became the first person from Nagaland to preside over the upper house following her nomination to the panel of vice-chairpersons of Rajya Sabha. She was in the chair when the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 was passed.
In a tweet, Konyak said she was immensely privileged, humbled and overwhelmed to preside over the Rajya Sabha today and went on to add, “Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji, women today are being given due respect and space in politics and leadership.” She also expressed gratitude to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar for giving her the opportunity. Responding to this tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote: “A very proud moment.”
Konyak is also the first woman to be elected to Rajya Sabha from Nagaland in April 2022.
To bring gender equality, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar had last week nominated Konyak along with— PT Usha, Fauzia Khan (NCP) and Sulata Deo (BJD) — to the panel of vice-chairpersons. This was the first time in the history of the Upper House that equal representation has been given to women members in the panel of vice-chairpersons.
Konyak is a member of the Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Committee on Empowerment of Women, House Committee and Member, Governing Council of the North-Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong.