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11/22/2005: "GPRN NSCN (IM) cautions public"

GPRN NSCN (IM) cautions public The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, Nov 21 (MExN): With the increase in vehicle thefts, the Crime Suppression Department and Entry Pass, Kilo Affairs, GPRN have cautioned the general public to be very careful while dealing in business especially in regard to buying vehicles. The CSD have intimated the District Transport Officers and Regional Transport Officers to take ‘intensive verification’ while registering vehicles so as to check car lifters. Information seeking co-operation have already been distributed to every District Transport Officers in all the districts.
Also for the better welfare of the general public, the CSD has set up Entry Pass for assistance of recovery of stolen vehicles as well as for suppression of other criminal offence. The masses have been requested not to purchase or for that matter, not to make or deal in such illegal business.
For further information and assistance, the general public are requested to dial 246195/ 9436008435/ 9436064082/ 9436014051.
Clarification sought from Sangtam tribe The Morung Express
The Naga Hoho is a federation of all Naga tribes. It is the tribe based apex body of the Nagas. The jurisdiction of the Naga Hoho covered all the traditional homeland of all the Nagas people, Nagas in Myanmar (Burma) and states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland in India. This is the platform for all Nagas which the founder leaders has established it with hardship and difficulties for the interest of the Naga people. The office of the Naga Hoho was functioned smoothly under the Presidentship of M. Vero the then President of Nag a Hoho till his team handover the charge to the present team headed by Horangse Sangtam.
The post of the President of the Naga Hoho is a prestigious post. The person who holds the post should be a person who is respected, honored and admired by his own tribe. But as per the press statements Horangse Sangtam, the President of Nag a Hoho was expelled by his own tribe for reasons best known to them. On the other hand, Thrinimong and his group claimed that they are the legal/legitimate United Sangtam Likhum Bumji (USLB) body and termed the other group a splinter group in the Naga Hoho Federal Assembly on July 22 at Kohima.
Now, the President of Nag a Hoho Horangse Sangtam became a confusing and controversial President of Naga Hoho. This creates confusion among the Naga people. This has already damaged the prestigious office of the chair. The Naga Hoho is of the Naga people, by the Naga people and for the Naga people.
It is high time for the United Sangtam Likhum Bumji (USLB) to clear the confusion and tell the truth and reality to the Naga people. It is the duty bound to speak out the reality to the people whether the USLB join the Naga Hoho or not in order to save the Naga Hoho for the interest of Nag a people. An individual or person cannot challenge his/her tribe and his/her tribe should be respected.
Adu Chaomai Diphupar-B, Dimapur, Nagaland
Naga success story inspires Laos - Asian country to send team to study women’s empowerment model NISHIT DHOLABHAI The Telegraph
Kohima, Nov. 21: Nagaland and Laos may be geographically far apart from one another, but a common cause is set to bring the two countries closer in many ways. So impressed is the tiny Southeast Asian nation with the work done under a project called the Nagaland Empowerment of People through Economic Development (Neped) that its officials have not only exchanged notes, but are also planning to visit the state for a “first-hand experience”.
A Neped delegation was in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, last month. Chozule Kikhi, a member of the team, said officials of that country were “amazed” on being told how Naga women were motivated to participate in protection of the environment and economic development.
File picture of a vendor selling eggs in Laos. The country hopes to emulate Nagaland’s success in augmenting the role of women in development
Neped is one of the 33 projects in India financed by the Indo-Canada Economic Facility, all of which have a component on gender issues. “Women are now playing a major part in micro-credit success. Our area of operation is very simple. Extending credit to women and through women is working wonders for us. The recovery is fast and they are more committed. Laos government officials were very receptive to the idea of increasing the role of women in development activities. They were impressed by our model. We exchanged notes and they are keen to visit the state. As and when they come, it will be a big honour for the state,” Kikhi said.
Solveig Schuster, the Canadian High Commission’s head of development cooperation in India, Nepal and Bhutan, echoed Kikhi. The Canadian bureaucrat, who was on a visit to Kohima today, said South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa were lagging behind in addressing women’s issues, including health and education. Started 11 years ago, Neped’s first goal is “empowering people through environment development”. It then lays stress on economic development and, finally, empowerment of women. Micro-financing through the Indo-Canada Economic Facility has worked wonders in 140 villages across Nagaland, where forest management and agriculture are becoming sustainable processes. Nagaland participated in a conference last month in Bangkok, where 1,600 women from various countries had been invited. It was organised by the Association of Women’s Rights in Development.
The connection between Laos and Nagaland lies not only in empowerment of women, but also in jhum, or shifting cultivation. Laos has banned it, while Nagaland has adopted a “holistic approach” towards it. Kikhi said Nagaland could learn a lot from Laos on what to do and not to do in controlling slash-and-burn cultivation. Laos has relocated jhum farmers to the plains, though the move has not gone down well with the people. “We have to learn from these failures,” Kikhi said.
Police unearth a major money laundering scam in Nagaland
Kohima | November 22, 2005 1:39:13 PM IST Webindia

Dimapur police unearthed a major financial racket involving crores of rupees allegedly involving many government departments. Official sources said following a court directive, police yesterday raided the premises of the Leafin India Limited (lil) at Dimapur and arrested one Tusher Vadra, general secretary of the company. The company, allegedly had amassed funds over Rs 4 crore from various government departments and individuals with assurance that 15 per cent interest would be paid for the investing money. The racket came to light when the North East Zonal Cultural Centre (nezcc) failed to recover the assured interest for its deposited amount of Rs one crore.
The NEZCC had deposited the money for a period of two years from August 6,1999 to September, 2001. The company had paid Rs 8.75 lakhs as interest in seven instalments so far. The total assured amount was Rs 1.6 crore after the expiry of the two years term up to September 2001.
The court order came after the NEZCC filed a case against the company for non-payment of the interest and invested money as the agreement. On interrogation, the accused revealed that the company had taken Rs 20 lakhs from the Nagaland government sponsored dairy cooperative Komul (Kohima Milk Union Limited ), Rs 53 lakhs from an individual late C K Sangtam and the rest from other individuals with total accumulation of about Rs 4 crore. The accused was earlier arrested on August 23, 2003 in Dibrugarh in Assam for issuing false cheque to some individuals. UNI AS PC AK SP1311
Vested circles trying to derail peace moves By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Nov 21 – The People’s Consultative Group (PCG), formed by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to pave the way for talks with the Government of India and the People’s Committee for Peace Initiative have expressed apprehension that some vested interest circles might try to derail the peace process, and called upon the people of the State to thwart any such attempt. Meanwhile, the second round of talks between the PCG and Government of India, scheduled to be held later this month, has been postponed.

PCG member and one of the coordinators of the Committee for Peace Initiative, formed with members of 21 different organisations, Dilip Patgiri, told this correspondent today that since the beginning of the peace process, there were attempts by certain sections to derail the process. He pointed out that the Army chief gave confusing statements on the very day the Prime Minister’s Office sent the formal letter to the PCG for the first round of talks. Subsequently, there have been contradictory statements from police and Army officials and the recent unprovoked killing of two members of the ULFA in Bilasipara proved that some persons did not want the peace process to continue. He said that since for months, the ULFA did not launch any operation and in the interest of creating a congenial atmosphere for talks, the security forces should also maintain restraint. “Peace is too important an issue to leave it to the security forces,” he added.

Patgiri said that the cycle rallies brought out by the members of the peace initiative to create public opinion in support of the peace process are getting very good response from cross sections of people. The rally brought out from Sadiya reached Jorhat today, while, the rally that started from Dhubri reached Pathsala. Another such rally will soon be brought out from Jonai. The rallyists also held public meetings en route and Patgiri, who addressed a number of such meetings, said that they tried their best to make the people aware of the peace process and the need to thwart any move to derail the process. Patgiri said that during the interaction with people, they came to know that cross sections of people wanted an amicable solution to the issues raised by the ULFA. All people of Assam want restoration of permanent peace in the state and they want to breathe freely, he added.

Meanwhile, the second round of meeting between the Government of India and the PCG, scheduled to be held later this month, has been postponed. One of the facilitators of the PCG, Rebati Phukan told this correspondent that the proposed meeting has been postponed because of the Parliament session and the same is likely to be held in the second week of December. Phukan expressed the hope that formal and direct talks between the Government of India and the ULFA would be held sooner or later. The Government has shown a positive gesture on the issue and on its part, the ULFA showed its sincerity, he pointed out. He also pointed out that all sections of people of Assam have extended their support to the peace initiative.
It may be mentioned here that the first round of talks between the Government and the PCG was held in New Delhi on October 26, which was also attended by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The issues like the release of the senior ULFA leaders from Jail, finding out the whereabouts of the ULFA men missing since the Bhutan operations in December 2003, etc are likely to figure in the second round of talks.

Undertrials freed after 54 years in Mental Hospital Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Nov 21 — Three undertrial prisoners, who were lodged in Tezpur Mental Hospital for upto 54 years even after being cured, have been released following NHRC’s intervention, reports PTI. The National Human Rights Commission had in June this year issued notice to the Inspector General of Prisons and Assam Chief Secretary about their status. The IG (Prisons) communicated that prisoners Machang Lalung, Sonamoni Deb and Khalilur Rehman have been handed over to their relatives, the NHRC said in a statement here today.

The brothers of another woman prisoner have also expressed willingness to take her back once the sentence is completed. Lalung had been admitted to the LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health in Tezpur in April 1951 when he was 23. Though he was declared fit for trial in 1967, the authorities took no note and he continued to remain an undertrial till he was released in July this year at the age of 77. Rehman was admitted as an undertrial in 1969 even though his conviction on charges of murder had been set aside by the High Court a year earlier as he was mentally unfit. He was handed over to his sister on June 24. After spending 32 years as an undertrial, though he was held not guilty because of his mental problem, Deb was released on June 30, the NHRC statement said. Parbati Mallik, who was charged with murdering her mother, was brought to the mental institute in 1977 but her case was fixed for hearing only after the NHRC’s intervention.

NSF order on TKS improglio, a wise decision By Tuithing Zingkhai Editorial Sangai Express
Welcoming the good gesture being rendered/sacrifice in dealing with the long pending TKS imbroglio by NSF the apex body of the Naga students community despite heavy sc-hedule stretching around the four corners of the Naga areas of Indian and outside has lot of credibility indeed. The TKS has term the NSF intervention as constitutional measure maintaining its sanctity, isolation, solidarity and integral values of the constitution which was constituted by our forefather/ leaders of the Naga students community in order to strengthen/safe-guard the younger generation which is mushrooming at large. It is unfortunate to term the intervention of the NSF as unconstitutional and rather deceived the students community by some of the selfish elders who couldn’t carry the yoke of their mysterious past which inevitably accustomed the TKS in quest of his knitted notion.
If I were to say, NSF did/commit no mistakes in declaring the order of take over of the TKS affairs for some stipulated time and period. This decision is very much wise enough and should be welcome by every farsighted students community and the leaders of the soil. It may be also recalled back that, the NSF constitution was framed by the Nagas across the world and the TKS is no exception to this, before every federating unit(s) in upholding the various congruous values and norms are stated in the constitution/enshrine in the book of federation. In order to implement the power and function being endorsed/enshrine by the voice of the highest must be respected, honoured and uphold if the Tangkhul students community has to keep alive the bond of federation/integral part of the NSF. Nevertheless, despite its integrative commonness between the various Naga students community, some of the TKS elders (not active members) is digging a far ranging cliff of loop-hole within the TKS body. As they are pre-occupied, mooted with blatant suspicion in mind, outburst with angers, vicious action which has no place in today’s world for such group of people. It is unavoidably neccesitated to clarify on our part that, NSF dealt the TKS imbroglio based on ground reality where the NSF visited Ukhrul three times led by the then president of NSF for the Tangkhul students purposefully keeping aside his heavy scheduled/appointment to save the rights of students community. In the course of their stay in Ukhrul, we the zonal/sub-zonal were called/summoned several time not to knit/stratify the evil designed over the TKS imbroglio within the TKS itself. But have studied/deliberated the issue thoroughly with their best knowledge.
The most evident prove being the second last trip of the Speaker NSF on 11th Oct.’05 where he and his team was sent back on the request of all the zonal/sub-zonal leaders with the spirit of arriving unanimous declaration of the Ramhaoleng as NSF’s care-taker jeopardising even the NSF’s appointed care-taker TKS, Sothing & Steward as the duo offers their claim with the view to re-instate peace and tranquillity within the TKS fraternity. The outcome of the resolution was stolen by some leaders for which NSF was compel/forced to initiate order/directive in the greater interest of the TKS. It was again on 14th Nov.’ 05 NSF revisited Ukhrul to settle the long pending TKS imbroglio once and for all. NSF convene/invite/served the information letter to all the leaders of subordinate zonal/sub-zonal TKS which was well attended by all the zonal/sub-zonal and was mis-interpreted by some people. It is also totally baseless to blame the NSF that it didn’t investigate through zonal/sub-zonal; because every meeting convene by NSF are well attended by all the zonal/sub-zonals. It is not a wise thing to betray ourselves for the selfish elders. Before the order was declared, the president of NSF himself invited any comprehensive argument with any leaders/elders in order to evolve a tangible/ acceptable solution in the eyes of all. It is surprising to learn that, there was no comprehensive meditation claim by some friends, it was they who claim responsible for inviting NSF’s president to resolve the TKS imbroglio who have even reached up to the Kohima describing themselves as four zonals’ presidents of the subordinate TKS.
Even the president himself with the reputed elders of the soil along with all the zonals representatives had a long discussion including with Ramhaoleng whereas on the other hand the Assembly was going on lead by Shimthar as Speaker. On learning this, president/ Speaker NSF along with general secretary ANSAM accompanied by several leaders of the Tangkhul join to convince the other group with good heart and faith. Taking the advantage of the president’s coming in the meeting, Ramhaoleng along with Shimthar did denied giving the privilege to address the members who must have tried to curtail the reality of TKS crises. President NSF with a courage to convince the gathering grape the time and directly declare the order of take-over of TKS affairs by the NSF learning the motives unconvincing. We are against the intension of some few elders tarnishing /defaming the leadership of NSF/ANSAM’s honourable initiative, for the sake of some evil designer/vicious interest which rather foster the social distrust, fissiparous and divisive forces operation, systematic disintegration to the common value of TKS. Admitting the non-conformity of the accepted value for which we appeal to all the students community leaders/elders of all the sons/daughters to be united against such destructive development growing to save the TKS in specific and the Tangkhul at length.

Blood of the innocents Sangai Express Editorial
The death of four persons of a family including an 18 month old infant at Noney Part II in Tamenglong district during a gun fight between Assam Rifles personnel and NSCN (K) cadres in the wee hours of November 19 is yet another grim reminder of the uncertain times we all have to live. The JAC, formed in connection with the death of the four persons, has already pointed the finger of accusation at the Assam Rifles alleging that it was the security personnel who shot the four persons dead. Whether the charges of the JAC are true or not is not relevant at this point of time for what we are talking today about is not who killed the four persons but about the uncertain times we all have to live. This particular tragedy happened at Noney Part II but there is no guarantee that a tragedy of such a dimension will not happen at any other parts of the State in the near future. The only thing that we can say with a degree of certainty is that such an incident will occur in the future and during that time too the only thing to write home about would be the tears of the immediate family members and the sense of outrage felt by the people. In other words incidents like the one at Noney may occur a thousand times, but the situation will not improve by any stretch of the imagination. Words smiths we are, but we cannot effectively convey the sense of loss and outrage that we feel over such a tragedy, for here there is no one we can turn to and seek an explanation, conditioned as we are, to live and accept the situation that has been so cruelly thrust upon us by all the different power players in the State. As members of the great human race, the most is we can do is convey our deep condolence and share the sorrow and pain of the immediate family members of the four killed in the unfortunate incident.
As reported, the four were cut down by a volley of gun shots even as they were rushing out of their house looking for cover during the fierce gun fight between the Assam Rifles men and cadres of the NSCN (K). Looking for cover outside the house ? This is the sad and tragic reality of life in the hills of Manipur. Perhaps the unfortunate family members thought they would stand a better chance to survive if they ran out of their house and took cover in a nearby jungles. It may have been a different story if the house they lived in was a pucca building but a pucca building in the far flung areas of Manipur is as rare as an honest Government official or an honest political leader in Manipur. Again the ill fated family members may have thought it wiser to flee while there was time instead of facing the wrath of the security force as it happens so many times after such an encounter. That there were no such repercussions from the security force may be because of the death of the four members of a family. The probabilities are many but the fact stands that an entire family has been wiped out for no fault of theirs but for the situation which has been forced on the people. Till date we have not heard a word of sympathy or condolence from the side of the Congress led SPF Government and this itself says something about how insensitive the Government has become to the fate of the common people. Do we need such a Government at all then ?

Script training hits Naga wall in hills OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, Nov. 21: Naga students in Manipur today blocked workshops meant to familiarise schoolteachers in the hill districts with the Meitei Mayek script, which is to be introduced from the next academic session.
Activists of the All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur prevented training programmes from getting under way in schools across Chingai, Ukhrul, Tadubi, None, Tamenglong and Chandel. However, the student organisation hinted it was doing a rethink on the blockade planned earlier. The organisation, which had choked Manipur’s lifelines for 52 days from June 19, said it cared about “human rights” and would not inconvenience residents again. Various units of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) are believed to be drawing up plans to continue the campaign against the introduction of Meitei Mayek, which is the original Manipuri script, in the hill districts. The NSF is the apex student organisation of Nagaland, but has been actively involved in the Naga agitation in the adjoining state. The NSF came into the picture midway through the economic blockade by the All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur, which was then protesting the Okram Ibobi Singh government’s decision to observe the anniversary of the June 2001 uprising in the valley as State Integrity Day. The uprising was against Del-hi’s attempt to extend its truce with the NSCN (I-M) to all Naga-inhabited areas, including parts of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. NSF vice-president Elu Ndang said a second economic blockade had been planned as part of the new Naga non-cooperation movement against the introduction of Meitei Mayek, but circumstances necessitated a rethink. “We are being careful because it may be seen as a human rights violation,” he said.
Other programmes on the protest calendar continued in Senapati and elsewhere in the Naga-dominated hill districts. In some places, Naga students uprooted signboards rewritten in the Meitei Mayek script. “The government is forcing painters to write in the Meitei script and we are not allowing it to happen,” said student leader Paul Langhu. Activists also barred vehicle owners from using the script on number plates.
The Ibobi Singh government decided to replace the Bengali script with Meitei Mayek in April. The announcement was hastened by an intense campaign in the valley, led by an organisation called the Meitei Erol Eyek Loinasillon Apunba Lup. Meitei script activists torched the state’s oldest library and railway reservation counter, both in Imphal, during the agitation.
JCC to work for peace From our Correspondent Sentinel
DIPHU, Nov 21: The Joint Co-ordination Committee (JCC) has strongly reacted to the quit notice issued to the Dimasas by a new organization called the Karbi Solidarity Troops. In a statement, the JCC termed the move of the Karbi Solidarity Troops a conspiracy to derail the peace process between both the Karbi and the Dimasa communities. In its statement, the JCC reiterated that the JCC was not against any particular community and reaffirmed that it would work sincerely to bring back the lost confidence among the people and peace in the district
Making it clear that the JCC's main objective is to eliminate the DHD militants from the soil of Karbi Anglong, it said that the militants let loose the reign of terror in the twin hill districts for the last several years and said that they would try wholeheartedly to restore peace between the two tribes.
NDFB criticizes police high- handedness From our Correspondent Sentinel
DIPHU, Nov 21: Dr Dethsorang, area commander of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Karbi Anglong, has expressed deep concern over the recent high-handedness of Howraghat police towards Bodo people of Howraghat, Langhin, on the pretext of apprehending NDFB cadres. He alleged that the police recently arrested several Bodo youths who were neither NDFB cadres nor had any links with any militant organization Condemning the alleged irresponsible act of Howraghat police, the rebel leader said that ground rules of the ceasefire were violated and this was going to disturb the ongoing peace process between the organization and the Government of India. Dethsorang demanded immediate release of the three Bodo youths who were arrested by the police recently and were still lodged in Diphu jail.
ULFA peace talks: Centre’s role lauded From our Correspondent Sentinel
BILASIPARA, Nov 21: The People’s Committee for Peace Initiative (PCPI), in order to garner public opinion on talks between the Centre and the People’s Consultative Group (PCG) on the ULFA problem, held a meeting at the Bilasipara Xahitya Xabha Bhavan with the AJYCP vice-president, Biren Hazarika, in the chair. In the meeting, Dr Mukul Mahanta, member of the People’s Consultative Group lauded the role of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in the recent talks held at the national capital. Bubumani Goswami, president, MASS said that owing to the anti-Assamese attitude of the Central Government, a section of disgruntled boys took up arms and started a revolution. Goswami lauded the role of the Centre in the recent peace talks and hoped that the insurgency problem of the State would see an end. A bicycle rally was also organized on the occasion. The president of the Bilasipara Press Club Hridayananda Das addressed the meeting.
Northeast Echoes PATRICIA MUKHIM The Telegraph Politics of patriarchy



Members of the Women Writers’ Forum of Assam demonstrate against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Manipur outside the Assam Assembly
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio recently announced that the state cannot afford to set up a women’s commission. Like a typical gender-blind patriarch, he added flavour to his argument by saying that the northeastern states do not need a Women’s Commission as the societies here are egalitarian and there is no gender discrimination. Rio is one of many who believes that a woman is the reigning queen of the kitchen and is happiest serving food to her family and spending her life as a housewife (read domesticated animal). Women’s commissions seek to extricate the woman from her role as a captive slave of the kitchen and help bring her resourcefulness and discernment into the realm of politics and economics, areas which men have usurped for centuries.
On second thoughts, one cannot really blame Rio. His counterparts in other states did not set up the women’s commissions out of a sense of commitment to women’s empowerment. They were all forced to do so by women’s groups who rose in arms and protested against their government until they achieved their goals. Nagaland has been in a state of conflict for almost 60 years, throughout which women have borne the brunt of the conflict. Security forces and militants have mercilessly raped them. They have lost their husbands, sons and brothers to the low-intensity warfare. There is a proliferation of female-headed households due to the high divorce rates and because men have become casualties to the conflict.
Gender game The very fact that there is not a single woman in the Nagaland Assembly should tell the true story of Nagaland politics. Men would find it hard to contest and win elections if their wives did not supervise the kitchen and saw to it that the volunteers were fed and looked after. Men will of course spend their time in the sitting room discussing strategies for winning elections. They forget that if at any point of time the kitchen mistress decides to pack her boots and call it a day, they would be lost in more ways than one. They would not even get their morning tea as they would not know how to make it.
This is where the understanding of gender is so important for modern statesmen. The word ‘gender’ in modern feminist jargon goes beyond the realms of masculine and feminine gender which we learnt during English grammar lessons. Gender is a cultural construct of male and female as opposed to the biological one. Culture defines the roles that men and women should play both in their homes and outside it. However, since gender is a cultural construct, like culture, it is not constant. Neither is it sacrosanct. History has proved that it is possible to change the gender-defined roles of both the sexes. Biology, on the other hand, compels a woman who is the “not-so-better” half to go through the pangs of menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, breast-feeding et al.
Endless drudgery Unfortunately for a woman, after she has completed the biological process of child-bearing, she is pushed into the gender role of washing, feeding, educating and cooking until the child grows up into a woman or a man. But that is not the only role women play.
In all the tribal states where the slash-and-burn method of cultivation is practiced, the presence of women as farmhands is mandatory. Planting, weeding and harvesting of paddy are all done by women. They also fetch water and firewood, sometimes from a great distance. On them lies the burden of caring for the elderly and the sick. Women are multi-taskers and they do their work incredibly well. In tribal cultures, a man will not sweep or wash utensils or clothes. He thinks it below his dignity to cook.
Child-rearing is seen as an exclusively female role. You do not usually see men holding feeding bottles or changing diapers. Nor do men get up at night to serenade the crying babies. The excuse is that men cannot lose sleep because they have to work the next day. But doesn’t the woman have to work too? Yet when the children grow up and become “somebody,” a man proudly proclaims that so and so is his son or daughter, as if he solely underwent the process of child-bearing and nurturing. Does this not sound familiar? If you begin to add up all that the woman does, a man’s work would seem relatively easy.
Bottle-feeding, nappy changing and baby-sitting are not a woman’s responsibility alone. Caring for and nurturing a child is the joint responsibility of both the parents, never mind if the man is working and the woman is a full-time home-maker. Home-making, incidentally, is a 24x7 job which is yet to be defined as “work”. When we employ maidservants, we pay them good money for their work. We also benignly put up with their tantrums and their slipshod work for fear that any complaint will be met with severe tongue-lashing followed by a quit notice.
Home truths Housework has its own politics. They say that participatory democracy begins at home. When a woman gains some leisure her husband loses it. Hence there is always a stiff resistance by men to allowing women any leisure. Housework is monotonous and repetitive. It kills creativity because all that housewives talk about is food and recipes and the burden of rising prices.
It is precisely because housework is so boring that a man would rather repair a cabinet or fix a fuse rather than wash dishes. Men think that housework is degrading. They never apply that same argument when it comes to their wives doing the same job. In one sense therefore all men are schizoids as they are divorced from the reality of maintaining life. Hence they play games with life.
On the other hand, a homemaker, often referred to as a housewife, must put up with the tantrums of the entire family. Besides ensuring that food is ready on the table, the clothes well-ironed and the house is neat and clean, she also has to look after the kids who are entirely dependant on their mother.
The task of tutoring school-going kids very often falls on the mother, ostensibly because the father loses his temper too fast and kids end up being terrorised and forget what they have learnt. What a convenient excuse for the man to put his feet up, read newspapers or watch television, while his wife slogs at the kitchen, and the children memorise their lessons at the dining table. In fact, dining tables these days double up as study tables because mothers need to supervise their kid’s studies and they have no time to do that away from the kitchen.
Political freedom With so much of a domestic burden, can a woman come out of her home and take part in politics? Men will of course say “no”. Their argument is that it is a woman’s sacred duty to run the home and to see that the children do not go astray. And if children do stray, the blame rests on the mother for having failed to serve as an example of virtuosity. But there are examples of courageous women who managed to circumvent the cumbersome process of being feminine and have stepped out to claim their rights. At the moment they are in the minority. That is why we need women’s solidarity groups to help get women into politics.
Talking about political empowerment of women is meaningless because no man would volitionally allow that to happen. Women themselves must claim the political space they have allowed to remain vacant and empower themselves. The voices of women’s organisations in Nagaland have remained mute. Except for Rosemary Dzuvichu who raised the banner of protest against Rio’s patronising statement, the others seem to have taken it lying down. Women in Nagaland must be able to make policies that are more humane and reduce the number of those who tend to stray into drugs and alcoholism. They must be in active politics and the setting up of a state commission for women is the first step in this long struggle.