MG Motor India, in collaboration with The Better India, has launched an initiative to highlight and recognize the extraordinary stories of 6 women changemakers who have driven a positive change in society.
The latest #MGChangemakers story highlights the brilliant initiatives and the work that women’s rights activist and founder of the North East Network (NEN), Monisha Behal, has been doing in the region.
Monisha has been planting the seeds of socioeconomic and environmental reform in Chizami, a small village in Nagaland’s Phek district, since the mid-1990s. With the aim of improving women’s health standards in the state, she set up the NEN which has created a unique development model in the region.
The NEN also started skill enhancement programmes such as bamboo craft, food processing, organic farming, rooftop water harvesting and low-cost sanitation, besides organising discourses on topics like governance, women empowerment and human rights issues in Chizami.
Taking the spirit of women empowerment further, Behal flagged off Chizami Weaves, a decentralised livelihood project to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the marginalized women in the district as well as to preserve the unique textile tradition of Nagaland. Starting with seven weavers, Chizami Weaves today has a strong network of more than 300 women in Chizami and 10 other villages in Phek district.
Rajeev Chaba, president at MG Motor India, said, “MG Motor has been built on the strong foundations of cultural diversity. It is to reinforce this vision that we are highlighting and recognizing 6 women catalysts of change through the #MGChangemakers campaign. Monisha Behal has made a significant contribution towards the upliftment of communities, inspiring and motivating several others to drive a positive change within society. We salute her resilience and spirit, and laud her commitment to championing the rights of those who find themselves at the margins.”
Dhimant Parekh, founder and CEO at The Better India, added, “The Better India has always highlighted the stories of individuals who have made a positive impact on the lives of others. We are delighted to partner with MG Motor for the #MGChangemakers initiative and showcase remarkable stories of people such as Monisha Behal. Thanks to her, today, Chizami is at the forefront of championing women’s rights, supporting sustainable livelihoods and restoring traditional food systems and agricultural practices in Nagaland. She has played a vital role in enhancing the way of life of many women in the North East and we are proud to showcase her tenacity and spirit through this campaign.”
Speaking on her involvement in the #MGChangemakers campaign, Monisha Behal said, “It is indeed a laudable campaign by The Better India and MG Motor India that brings the fire to the stories of transformation of the entire communities such as, the kind that Northeast rural women have gone through. Northeast Network seems to have become the beacon of development and change in the region and I am so grateful to the #MGChangemakers to recognise the work we have done and turned the spotlight on it to inspire others.”
