Nagaland Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen on Friday called for greater adoption of clean energy, climate-smart technologies and financial inclusion to strengthen women-led rural enterprises, saying innovation and sustainability must drive the next phase of rural economic growth in the state.
He was addressing a one-day programme on “Women-Led Rural Enterprises for a Climate-Smart Nagaland”, organised by the SELCO Foundation in collaboration with the Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission (NSRLM) at the NBCC Convention Centre, Kohima.
Inaugurating the event as the special guest, Imchen said women have long been the backbone of Nagaland’s rural economy and stressed the need to equip women entrepreneurs with modern technology, renewable energy solutions, better access to finance and stronger market linkages to build resilient and sustainable rural enterprises.
He stressed the need to equip women entrepreneurs with modern technology, clean energy solutions, financial inclusion and better market access to build resilient and sustainable rural enterprises.
Imchen said women have long been the backbone of Nagaland’s rural economy and that the next phase of growth must be driven by innovation, technology and climate-smart solutions. Highlighting the achievements of the NSRLM, he noted that over 1.17 lakh rural households have been mobilised into 15,445 SHGs across 1,231 villages in all 17 districts.
While acknowledging the success of the SHG movement, he said many women entrepreneurs still face challenges in accessing technology, finance and markets. He also pointed to the growing impact of climate change on agriculture, including erratic rainfall patterns, disrupted cropping cycles and declining productivity, and stressed that the issue can no longer be ignored.
Emphasising the need for urgent action, he called for greater adoption of renewable energy, climate-smart technologies and low-carbon solutions to build resilient and sustainable rural livelihoods.
Imchen said the partnership between NSRLM, SELCO Foundation and financial institutions would help promote solar-powered technologies such as dryers, grinders and cold storage units, enabling SHGs and entrepreneurs to reduce post-harvest losses, improve product quality and create local employment opportunities.
According to a DIPR update, he further emphasised the importance of financial institutions in supporting rural enterprises and encouraged SHGs and women entrepreneurs to make full use of the opportunities offered through the programme to strengthen their livelihoods and enterprises.
Joint Secretary RD & Mission Director (NSRLM), Moa Sangtam, in his welcome address, said that everyone has different experiences and ways of navigating life. Acknowledging that the Mission was not perfect, he urged participants to be prepared to work with imperfect partners, assuring them of its commitment to giving its best.
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Welcoming the SHG members, Sangtam stated that the Fair was organized for them and encouraged them to explore the machinery on display and share their feedback to help NSRLM better support SHGs in the future.
Delivering the context-setting presentation on “Clean Energy for Rural Livelihoods,” Huda Jaffer of SELCO Foundation said that Nagaland’s strong potential for innovation and entrepreneurship presents an opportunity to create lasting impact through collaborative efforts. She noted that SELCO Foundation, which has been working for over 16 years, places emphasis on building partnerships based on trust and transparency.
Jaffer stated that the Foundation seeks to support locally driven solutions and encouraged stakeholders to envision future-ready interventions that address livelihood challenges. She stressed that the most important priority is to provide need-based support, ensuring that solutions are designed around the aspirations and realities of local communities while creating sustainable rural livelihoods.
A total of 19 exhibition stalls showcased innovative technologies, financial solutions, and products developed by Self-Help Groups (SHGs). This event aimed to provide a common platform for stakeholders to explore innovative climate-smart technologies and enterprise solutions that could strengthen women-led rural livelihoods.
The programme featured a Technology Mela showcasing Climate-Smart Technologies, live demonstrations by solution providers, orientation sessions for SHG members and rural entrepreneurs, and dedicated sessions on financing opportunities. It also facilitated interactions between entrepreneurs, vendors, financial institutions, and community institutions to foster partnerships and market linkages.
A panel discussion on “Voices from the Field – Inspiring Stories of Women Entrepreneurs in Self-Help Groups” was also held, featuring women entrepreneurs who shared their experiences and entrepreneurial journeys. The session was moderated by Rachita Misra of SELCO Foundation. Reflections from enterprise journeys in Meghalaya were shared by Minha Khan, Project Lead, PRIME-Rural, Meghalaya.
