New Delhi: ‘On Day 1′ of the Eighth IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Egypt, Nagaland achieved a minor milestone as the lone woman Rajya Sabha member and BJP lawmaker S Phangnon Konyak attended the mega prestigious event on Wednesday and Thursday.
“I am truly honoured and feel extremely proud to represent my great country India,’ tweeted Ms Konyak, whose election to the Upper House of Parliament in March almost revolutionised women empowerment in the northeastern state.
“Will do my best to learn, share and absorb!” Ms Phangnon sounded grounded and humble in her missive on the micro-blogging site.
Nagaland attained full-fledged statehood on December 1, 1963, but it has not elected any woman legislator to date.
Her feat came in for appreciation by state BJP president Temjen Along Jamir, who described the occasion as a “proud moment for Nagas, as our very own first woman MP to Rajya Sabha, Smti @SPhangnon Konyak will be representing India at the 8th IPU Global Conference”.
In her Twitter missive, Phangnon also wrote: “I shall be in Egypt for the two days as part of the Indian delegation to participate in the Eighth IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, at Sharm el-Sheikh, where I’ll also get to share my thoughts. Looking forward!”.
The second female after Rano Shaiza had made it to the Lok Sabha in the 1970s, Ms Konyak was elected unopposed from Nagaland on March 24, this year, becoming the first woman elected to the House of Elders from the state.
This year’s theme at the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting is ‘Young MPs for Climate Action’.
The conference is expected to reflect on what may be the most ‘pressing and existential’ issue requiring strong international responses – the fight to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
In the context of Nagaland and the North-East region coming up a long way under PM Narendra Modi, she said – “We are on the right track with much potential to be unlocked”.
“From deliberately being kept on the periphery to becoming an important and indispensable part of the country’s progress, #NorthEast has come a long way under PM @narendramodi ji,” Ms Phangnon had tweeted on June 13.
The 8th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians is jointly organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Egyptian House of Representatives to provide a platform for young MPs from across the world to exchange, learn and define common and innovative strategies to advance youth empowerment.
Around 200 young MPs, including the MPs from India and from 60 countries, are participating this year in Egypt.
The IPU data revealed that out of 35,177 parliamentary seats globally but just 2.66 per cent of these are held by young MPs.
Indian Ambassador to Egypt Ajit V Gupte hosted a dinner for the Indian delegation on Tuesday.
“A historic moment for the Nagas…,” tweeted H. Tovihoto Ayemi, advisor to the Department of Power.
“Hopeful that you’ll have a productive experience as you venture on this new opportunity and many more opportunities ahead,” Ayemi added.
Leave a Comment