Women Entrepreneurs Network Nagaland (WENN), in collaboration with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025, at Hotel Saramati, Dimapur. The event, themed “March Forward – From Promises to Progress,” gathered women from various backgrounds to honor their achievements and advocate for gender equality.
The event, chaired by Abokali Jimomi, featured a series of engaging activities, live demonstrations, and a reading by Anungla Zoe Longkumer from a prose poem titled “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann.
General Manager of NABARD, Pauliankap Bulte, delivered the keynote speech. He mentioned that “women shape the intangible, but it is crucial to bring forth the tangible contributions they make.” Stating that women are at the heart of NABARD’s initiatives, he said that it is through collaborations that their commitment leads to lasting change. He assured that the organization will continue to support women’s initiatives.
The highlight of the day was a panel discussion on ‘Women in Nagaland – An Introspection of Rights & Gender Equality,’ moderated by Ovi K. Yeptho. Esteemed panelists Neiteo Koza, Paul Lokho, and Temsusenla Kichu shared their insights and experiences, fostering a meaningful dialogue on women’s rights and gender equality. Sharing her perspectives on rights and equality in Nagaland, Koza noted that India is not lacking in rights and laws, but the challenges lie in their implementation. She stated that the law does not discriminate against women or gender while highlighting two key acts: the POSH Act, which pertains to violations against women in workplaces, and the Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act. She also noted that SAKHI One Stop Centres in Nagaland are fairly well implemented.
Speaking on the progress and challenges, Lokho Paul highlighted various positive developments, such as the urban local body elections in Nagaland, among others. Further, based on indicators where women are emerging as successful entrepreneurs, one barrier that needs to be broken down is the societal bias (male-dominated, patriarchal in nature), breaking stereotypes, and advocating for women’s participation in power-sharing, he said. He also highlighted the need to advocate for women in village-level setups and for women’s rights to ancestral property.
Temsusenla Kichu, recounting her upbringing, shared the challenges she faced in sustaining her family and her commitment to change that for herself. She pointed out that women’s contribution to the economy is 44.7% and placed a challenge before the government and stakeholders to give women more roles and opportunities to participate.
The panelists also spoke about the way forward: what more can be done to remove stereotypes, close the gap in existing laws and their implementation, and the role of Naga women in rebuilding a women-inclusive society—capturing grassroots leadership and entrepreneurship. The panelists concurred that well-curated training modules, confidence-building measures, exposure, and creating collectives to advocate for training are some of the ways to move forward. Progress can be made with collaborative efforts between women’s collectives, the government, and CSOs, they noted. Observing that women achieve more when they collaborate, Koza said that if more women can reach the grassroots level to push other women, the village level can fare much better.
Furthermore, the positive use of law to impact society is also the need of the hour, she added.
Furthermore, Abokali Jimomi shared her optimism that the discussions would lead to concrete action. She highlighted how inequality manifests at the grassroots level, citing the example of the daily wage gaps in villages, where work is designed for men, and questioned how society can redesign its thinking about what constitutes work that is inclusive of women or work that women can excel at.
Closing the programme, the vote of thanks was delivered by Alemjungla Jamir, with a call for all to come together and work for gender equality.
The WENN Pop-Up Bazaar was a major attraction, showcasing products and services from 15 talented entrepreneurs, contributing to the vibrant and supportive atmosphere of the event. The celebration not only highlighted the incredible achievements of women in the community but also reinforced the ongoing commitment to gender equality and empowerment.