Nagaland: NE SRLMs undergo workshop on gender, social inclusion

May 3, 2023 22 Views No Comment

KOHIMA, May 3 (MExN): Representatives from eight states of the Northeast State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs) under DAY-NRLM, MoRD are participating in a three-day workshop on Gender and Social Inclusion being hosted by the Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission (NSRLM) at Rhododendron Resort, Phesama Kohima from May 2 to 4.

Speaking as special guest during the inaugural session, Neposo Theluo IAS, Commissioner & Secretary RD, Government of Nagaland stated that a noteworthy feature of DAY-NRLM is the gender mainstreaming initiatives where all the programmatic activities and strategies are working towards ensuring equity and a gender-just society.

He remarked on the ‘inclusive approach where the marginalised and most vulnerable sections of society are being mobilized so that they can grow together as a community with a sense of belongingness in an otherwise segregating culture.’

Theluo said, ‘the northeast states are generally close-knit where people come together to help the weaker sections in times of need.’ There are aspects of the societal set-up where behavioural change is not easy when a community becomes comfortable with the way of living but that change is needed for growth, he added.

He expressed hope that the workshop would be a meeting of experiences and model practices where the best fit for each state will be framed and the vulnerable community will be included in decision-making positions through the right platforms and they would get access to rightful entitlements; thereby, fulfilling their dreams and aspirations in the process.

Delivering the introductory note, Imtimenla, Mission Director, NSRLM stated that over the years of implementation of the noble mission, there have been challenges but with support from the Ministry and the parent department, the state missions have overcome the most daunting tasks as per the objective strategy of DAY-NRLM’s vision which is to build strong institutions of the poor towards attainment of self-sustaining, vibrant and wholesome institutions.

The Mission Director said that India being such a diverse country, and the northeast with its own unique diversities, it will be a good opportunity for cross learning about other people’s cultures and traditions, best practices which will strengthen bonds and pave the way for symbiotic relations amongst the SRLM states and union territories in social development initiatives.

Giving the overview of the workshop, Binota Laitongbam, State Mission Manager, Manipur SRLM said social inclusion is being taken up as a special project to include the most vulnerable sections of society through various processes such as the participatory identification of poor.
She said ‘protocols need to be contextualized and capacity building modules need to be developed accordingly.’ “The state missions are expected to develop evidence-based good practices for cross learning,” she said and added that “under gender, key focus would be in strengthening of institutional mechanisms and integration.”

The inaugural session was chaired by Khriezovonuo Lhoungu, State Program Manager-SISD, NSRLM with invocation led by Rokovilie Zashümo, pastor, Phesama Baptist Church and Kenivole Richa, Program Manager-SISD, NSRLM felicitating the guests. The three-day workshop will be facilitated by Kalamani Arumugam, National Resource Person, DAY-NRLM. The participants are from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.