|
The
Government of Nagaland, through the Directorate of Women
Development has the mandate of uplifting women to function as
equal partners and participants in the development process. This
new Directorate has initiated and is implementing a number of
welfare and development programmes for women.
The
Directorate is presently under the charge of the Commissioner
and Secretary, Social Welfare and Women Development who also
heads the Directorate as Ex-Officio Director of Women
Development. At the Directorate, he is assisted by the Joint
Director, Deputy Director and two Assistant Directors. In the
districts the District Welfare Officers assist in the
implementation of the programmes of the Department.
Under
the programme of Financial Assistance to Destitute Women,
financial assistance @ Rs 100 per month is given to needy
destitute women. About 1750 women beneficiaries are receiving
assistance and during 2006-07, 500 new beneficiaries were
selected.
The
centrally sponsored scheme of Swayamsidha is an integrated
scheme for women empowerment based on the formation of women
into Self Help Groups (SHGs). Accordingly, the Department has
initially identified 6 ICDS Blocks for a Pilot Period (2001-06)
? Medziphema, Kohima, Jakhama, Pf?tsero, Mon, Sangsangnyu, where
140 villagers have been covered and 600 SHGs were formed up to
2006-07, covering 6340 rural women. 538 SHGs have opened bank
accounts, 289 SHGs have availed loan from the banks/other
agencies. It may also be mentioned that 35 grocery shops are
owned by Swayamsidha SHGs.
To
impart training to school dropout girls and rural women for
their self employment, the Training cum Protection Centre was
established. The centre imparts training in knitting, weaving,
and tailoring trades. During 2006-07 vocational training was
imparted to 65 girls.
The
Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls, introduced in 2002-03,
provides supplementary nutrition to under-weight girls. Tuensang
district was selected as the pilot project. To cover more
beneficiaries the scheme has been extended to 20 most backward
blocks in the state under the State Plan during 2006-07.
Approximately 1, 06,000 adolescent girls have been covered
during the year.
The
Directorate of Women Development also co-ordinates and
implements various programmes mooted by the Ministry of Women
and Child Development. The Directorate, at present, is
implementing grant-in-aid programmes through NGOs on the
recommendation of the state government. These include STEP
(Support to Training and Employment Programmes); Working Women
Hostel; Swadhar, that extends temporary shelter and rehabilitate
those women and girls who have no social support systems etc and
Swawlamban that provides training and skill to women to
facilitate them to obtain employment or self-employment on a
sustained basis.
The
Department has also recommended 25 applications of deserving
girls to the Maulana Azad Education Foundation,
New Delhi
during 2006-07. Under the Chief Minister?s Corpus Fund, the
Department has also initiated a women-group-based programme and
is working though SHGs on transformative livelihood
interventions and market linkages.
The
Nagaland State Women Commission has also been constituted and
its Chairperson and members have been duly appointed. The
Commission will study and monitor all maters relating to
constitutional, legal safeguards provided for women. The
Commission will also advice the State Government on all matters
concerning policy on women.
An
Integrated Development cum Resource Centre for women is under
construction at Dimapur. This Centre will provide information on
rights and opportunities for women, develop/enhance their skills
and provide support services. Other services to be provided
include leadership and capacity building. For demonstration as
well as to augment the vocational training and other income
generating activities, machineries such as processing equipments
for common use will be installed. The Centre will also include a
library with internet connection, facilities like fax, printing,
PCO, computer services, cr?che services, recreational
facilities, self defense classes, fine arts, music classes etc.
The construction works of the IDRC for women at Dimapur is
expected to be completed soon.
A
Rehab cum Support Centre is being established to be attached to
the IDRC, Dimapur for catering to the special needs of
commercial sex workers, HIV/AIDS infected and affected women,
deserted women, victims of sexual exploitation and marital
violence. Services to be provided include free legal aid,
counseling and spiritual guidance.
The
Department has also forwarded the application of 117 orphans to
the Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba Memorial Trust for grant of Rs.
500 per month to each child for a period of five years. During
2006-07, 100 have been selected. The Department also provides
grant in aid to deserving NGOs working for the rehabilitation
and support of women in difficult circumstances. So far 49 NGOs
have received grant in aid.
Thus,
the Department strives to accelerate the empowerment process of
women while also acknowledging the fact that women are now
accepted agents of development.
April
2007
A DIPR
(Nagaland) Feature
|
