President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday urged the women of Nagaland to get “more” involved in public life because their empowerment will ensure “more” development in society.

In her speech at a civic reception hosted in her honour in Kohima, her first public engagement during her four-day trip to Nagaland, Mizoram and Sikkim from Wednesday, the President noted that the literacy rate among women in Nagaland was higher than the national average and that the state was also the safest place for women in the country.

The state has a women literacy rate of 76 per cent compared to the national average of 65 per cent. Men’s literacy rate is about 82.75 per cent.

Stating that the high literacy rate and overall safety of women demonstrated the “high respect” accorded to women in Naga society, Murmu urged the women of Nagaland to “come forward and get more involved in public life” because there would be “more development” in a society if women are empowered.

Though women play an active role socially, their representation in public life is nothing to write about. There has been no woman MLA since Nagaland attained statehood in 1963. It has had only two women MPs — a Lok Sabha member in Rano M. Shaiza (1977) and a Rajya Sabha member in Phangnon Konyak (2022).

In the 2018 Assembly polls, only five women contested for the 60 Assembly seats. Nagaland, which has an Opposition-less government headed by the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party in which the BJP is a partner, goes to polls in 2023.

Besides attending the civic reception hosted by the state government, Murmu also virtually inaugurated/laid the foundation stone for various projects related to education, road infrastructure and financial sector in Kohima. Development of infrastructure is a key parameter for the growth of a state, she said.

Praising the “dynamic, talented and creative” youth of Nagaland, Murmu said with a literacy rate of over 80 per cent and being well-versed in the English language, they are working in the IT, hospitality and other sectors across India, she said.

“Providing the youth a holistic education remains the key to help them achieve their true potential. New initiatives related to schools and hostels for girl-children, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, and smart classrooms project will give further impetus to education in the state,” she said.

She said the good quality agro and horticultural produce of Nagaland has great demand in the market. The opening of Naturally Nagaland outlets by the state government has provided a new platform to local entrepreneurs, farmers and weavers to sell traditional handicrafts and handlooms and varieties of organic products.

The President said there is a tremendous potential of tourism in Nagaland. The Hornbill Festival, starting from December 1, has become a popular platform for capturing and showcasing the colourful and beautiful culture of the state.

Representatives of leading organisations feted the President.