High time for women’s representation in NLA: CM

February 10, 2023 86 Views No Comment

KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 10 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio today said that it is time that Nagaland has women’s representation in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA). He said this while speaking at one of two campaign programmes for the NDPP in Kohima on February 9.

The Chief Minister spoke at the campaign kickoff programmes for the Western Angami and Northern Angami 1 Assembly Constituencies on Thursday.

Speaking at Khonoma village in Kohima district, Rio said that the NDPP has fielded two women candidates—Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu for the 8th Western Angami Assembly Constituency and 3 Dimapur- III Assembly Constituency respectively for the February 27 Nagaland elections.

The Chief Minister said the duo have been awarded with the party ticket in pursuance of the commitment and policy of the NDPP towards women empowerment and gender equality.

Rio informed that the party has confidence on them, for which the ticket was awarded accordingly. In this, Rio made a fervent appeal to the people to elect them to the state assembly.

“They must win,” Rio said, adding that they will represent women in the matter of decision making when they get elected to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA).

Realizing the contribution of women in the society, Rio said that equal opportunity needs to be given to women in the present society. Stating not a single woman has been elected to the NLA till date, Rio said that when they (women candidates) win the elections this time, it would script epoch-making in the 14th NLA.

Stating that privilege comes with a responsibility, he told the party workers that “Your responsibility is to stand together and enable her to win.”

“We can make our democracy more vibrant by acknowledging the fact that women not only have the right to vote and to elect but also to be elected,” Rio tweeted after attending the campaign kick-off programme.

CM on regional identity & delimitation
Speaking at the other campaign programme in Kohima Village, the Chief Minister spoke on the Naga political issue and stressed on the preservation of regional identity. He said that the “Naga people must uphold and protect our regional identity.” “If we don’t stand up together, we will lose our character, our tradition and culture,” he added.

The CM meanwhile, said that the process of ‘Delimitation’ which has been implemented across India has been an issue of big concern. He referred to how in the process of delimitation seats were not increased but readjustments were made.

On this, Rio informed that during talks with the Central Government, they have discussed about increasing the MLA seats to 80, and 3 Lok Sabha seats—1 for the ENPO, 1 for CNTC and 1 for Tenyimia as well as adding one more seat to the Rajya Sabha.