NSCW member Akokla Longchar along with other officials during the Mahila Jan Sunwai programme conducted on March 9 at the DC Conference Hall, Wokha. (DIPR Photo)
Niuland, March 10 (MExN): A series of Mahila Jan Sunwai (public hearings) were conducted across Nagaland districts as part of a nationwide initiative to provide women a direct platform to raise grievances and seek institutional support on issues such as domestic violence, harassment and trafficking.
In Niuland, the programme was organised on March 10 at the DC Conference Hall by the Nagaland State Commission for Women in collaboration with the district administration, District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW) and the Department of Social Welfare.
Chaired by CDPO Niuland Benjamin Sema, the hearing aimed to enable women to voice concerns and access grievance redressal mechanisms. Resource persons included Alika Awomi, Centre Administrator of Sakhi-One Stop Centre; Khumchuba, panel lawyer of the District Legal Services Authority; and Kekhrienuo Meyas, member of the Nagaland State Commission for Women.
Addressing the gathering, Meyas encouraged women to assert their rights while cautioning against taking the law into their own hands when confronting social evils. She emphasised the need for collective efforts involving churches and different sections of society to combat injustice and gender-based violence.
Participants raised questions during the interaction session on issues such as domestic violence, legal measures related to self-help group bank defaults and other gender-based injustices. Dedicated benches comprising officials from the women’s commission, district administration, legal services authority, police authorities and legal experts were present to ensure follow-up mechanisms for timely grievance redressal.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by S. Boloka Jimo, Specialist in Financial Literacy under DHEW Niuland. The event was attended by members of Sumi Totimi Loka, officials from the District Public Relations Office, police personnel, EAC Niuland Kelengunuo Solo and CDPO Tohokhu.
A similar Mahila Jan Sunwai was held at the DC Conference Hall in Zunheboto on March 9. The programme was organised by the Nagaland State Commission for Women in collaboration with the district administration, Sakhi-One Stop Centre and the Zunheboto District Legal Services Authority.
During the programme, Sakhi-OSC Centre Administrator Alovini Yeptho highlighted the grievances and challenges faced by women in the district, while ZDLSA retainer lawyer Easter H. Yeptho spoke on legal issues concerning women and stressed the importance of legal awareness and support mechanisms. NSCW member Kekhrienuo Meyas also interacted with participants on measures available for the protection and empowerment of women. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Viveni Yeptho, Gender Specialist under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative.
In Wokha, the Mahila Jan Sunwai was conducted on March 9 at the DC Conference Hall under the nationwide initiative of the National Commission for Women in collaboration with the state commission and the district administration.
The programme was chaired by NSCW member Akokla Longchar, who highlighted challenges faced by women including domestic violence, sexual abuse, early teenage pregnancy, verbal abuse and workplace harassment. She emphasised the importance of awareness of legal safeguards protecting women’s rights and urged women’s organisations to play a key role in spreading awareness.
During the hearing, Sakhi-One Stop Centre Wokha referred two cases to the commission for consideration.
The week-long public hearing drive, being conducted from March 9 to 13 across districts, aims to ensure time-bound grievance redressal through coordinated efforts of officials from the women’s commission, district administration, police, legal experts and protection officers.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Chümoukedima, has informed that another Mahila Jan Sunwai will be held at the DC Conference Hall on March 11 at 10 am, where authorities will address pending complaints and accept walk-in grievances from women seeking assistance.
