Sep 23, 2011

Nagalim: Women’s Organization Gives Business Advice To Female Entrepreneurs In Nagaland


A delegation from female-run Self Empowerment Women’s Association (SEWA) met with the women from the Naga Mother’s Association (NWA) to discuss boosting female run enterprise in the region.

Below is an article published by The Morung Express:

13 women delegation of from Gujarat met members of the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) today [22 Sept. 2011] in Kohima. The women are members of an organisation called Self Empowerment Women Association (SEWA) that operates in nine states of India. NMA Advisor, Khesheli Chishi informed The Morung Express that the main purpose of their visit was to learn about Naga women. She said the women told the NMA about the activities of SEWA in the uplift of women at the grassroots level. “It was quite amazing,” Chishi said. SEWA, she said, is well structured and undertakes several activities to help rural women. She said that SEWA has its own bank that allows its members to keep their savings. Apart for that, it also undertakes research, documentations, and collects information on women. They also teach the women to save, build their businesses and generate employment, she said. The organisation, she added, comprises solely of women.


Chishi said that their functioning is also applicable to women in Naga society. “We know many things that can be done for women but we just don’t know how to go about doing it,” she said.  For instance, she said that the organisation helps rural women vegetable vendors sell their produce in the market, encourages home- based businesses and also teach them about savings. She said that the similar activities undertaken by SEWA can help financially empower women at the grassroots level in Nagaland. The delegation has been on similar tours to other states meeting different women organisation. The delegation would be leaving Nagaland on Friday.