Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) Women department in Collaboration with Phomla Hoichem Longleng observed the International Women’s Day on 8th March 2025 under the theme "Accelerate Action" with President (ENWO), Yingphe Konyak as the special guest and EAC Longleng, Imkongnukla Ao as the Guest of Honour at PBCA Convention Hall, Longleng.
All the Churches under Longleng District were part of the celebration and 20 Women Union and its members under apex hoichem participated in the event.
Women Secretary of PBCA, P. Angbhenla Phom in her synopsis of the theme ‘Accelerate Action’ presented very elaborate thoughts on the theme. She said that in order to create gender justice, world women should be included in decision making, writing vision, drafting law and social action. Rights of women which empower and prosper women and her ability should not be shelved and made invisible. She should be allowed to create a better world through her gift, ability, qualifications, her goodness and intelligence, she said.
EAC Longleng, Imkongnukla Ao, who spoke on the event as the Guest of Honour shared that women are doing really well in their leadership and professions like in Church, Politics and Administration. Nagaland is one of the safest places for women in whole over India. Women have always been sacrificial bearing all but she is not weak. She could do all because she is courageous and strong. Successful women in history have always worked hard and they had their own challenges. Men should also learn to live with empowered women. Financial literacy and digital literacy are really important for women because it’s an act of self-empowerment.
The President ENWO, Yingphe Konyak who graced the occasion as the Special Guest thanked God and the Collaborating partner PBCA Women Department and Phomla Hoichem for the success of the program. She said the theme of the program is a reminder that progress for women cannot be delayed and also spoke on social perspective. She urged the gathering women to support each other and strengthen their bound. She felt that decisions taken by leaders and stakeholders should be inclusive and not favouring only to certain groups or gender biased. Pointing that consciously or unconsciously preference for only male child in the kitchen creates wrong society in the world system, she said society where women are deprived will collapse, and encouraged women to be vocal with their rights without self-doubting in decision making. She appealed to all Naga women to remain with oneness and share their vision of unity and love to others.
The celebration was inter-denominational and inter-churches where Ao Baptist Church and Gorkha Baptist Church also presented a celebratory item. Executive Secretary of PBCA, N Tialemba Phom blessed the women members of the district with prayer. Cultural items were presented by women union on zone wise. President of Phomla Hoichem, N Ainyu Phom expressed her gratitude to all the leaders, program participants, volunteering and logistic team, media, apex bodies, and women members who attended the program.
(Manjong IA Longleng)
