SHILLONG, Feb 19: Paving the way for future women leaders and pioneers, Jani Mawïong village under Mawphlang, East Khasi Hills, has made great strides towards their participation in the developmental affairs of a village.
The village has appointed women in key positions of President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Village Natural Resource Management Council (VNRMC) – a first where women members preside over all three key positions.
President of the committee, Buldahun Langstieh revealed that women not being permitted to attend annual Dorbar meetings remains an impediment in their village, but with the arrival of
Community-Led Landscape Management Project (CLLMP), a recognition of their contributions by the male residents is slowly growing as women bring forth issues that are different but none the less pertinent.
CLLMP, is a project implemented by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA), lays special emphasis on the inclusion of women in the decision-making process of a village by making it mandatory for a woman to be the Secretary of the VNRMC, which is a committee that oversees the implementation of project activities at the village-level.
Langstieh credited the village headman for the opportunity to be part of the committee. She is hopeful that further progress would be observed in Jani Mawïong and her village would become an example for other villages and allow women to be involved in the decision-making process.
Secretary of the VNRMC, Fulsida Sunn said that this is the first time a responsibility of this magnitude has been shouldered on her, but added that she is excited at the prospect of the challenge.
Sunn had even presented a few innovative ideas on afforestation measures by suggesting the use of hay to protect the saplings from the frost during winters.
“There is mutual understanding and camaraderie among all the three women members, as we are also close friends outside of work,” Sunn mentioned.
“A Secretary is the backbone of any committee and hence, I feel there is an added responsibility to my work besides managing my day-to-day affairs as a schoolteacher and a mother,” she added.
The Treasurer, Lucky Daughter Langstieh, expressed her enthusiasm and fervour in taking up the mantle.
“Our VEC treasurer has always been a male and therefore, it was a historic occasion for me as well as for all the women in Jani Mawïong Village when we were elected as representatives,” Lucky said.
As it stands, the road largely remains long and arduous towards the representation of women in the many-sided aspects of rural development, but villages like Jani Mawïong are setting momentous examples by legitimizing the value of putting women in leadership roles and addressing the burning issue of gender inequalities.