N K Keny has bagged Best Social Activist Award

N K Keny has bagged Best Social Activist Award

• October 06, 2021

I am NK Keny and I come from a very remote Indigenous village of Alaphumi, Nagaland, North East India. I belong to the Sumi Indigenous people. I was born on 4^th february 1969. I'm the fourth child in my family and have nine siblings, four Brothers and five Sisters. My father Lt Nihovi Kinimi, youngest son of Mrs.Lt Kutoli Achumi and Mr.Lt Hekiye Kinimi, Village Chief. My mother Lt. Yevili Aye, eldest daughter of Mr. Lt Khukhubo Aye and Mrs.Lt Xevili Achumi of Merchants.  

My father died when I was six. My mother had to go through a lot of pain and hardship without my father. My family experienced shortages of food and other basic supplies. Even though my mother came from a family of economically well-off merchants, she decided not to leave her children when she became a widow. Instead, she decided to stay in the village with her nine children.

During my childhood, helping my mother with farm work and taking care of my younger siblings was my regular chores. Every day I had to walk three and half miles to go to school and back from the school three and half miles. After school I had to run up to the hill to go help my mother. We go into the forest to search for food and other forest consumables, instead of asking others for help. I also witnessed the hardships my mother faced due to the lack of access to basic health facilities. All my younger siblings were born in the village without any medical assistance, and my mother single handedly raised all my nine siblings.    

There were many challenges, but my mother stayed positive and never thought ill of anyone. My mother taught us to be positive and serve the people who moved against us. My family was all hardworking, self-sufficient and resilient people. My mother also works for the village, sharing traditional knowledge on preserving seeds, and informing the villagers about the best time to sow. Besides this, she weaves and makes organic colors out of wild plants and leaves. She used traditional medicine to help people in the village.

Through all of my hard work, I became the first person in my family to finish class ten. After this, I left my village to continue my studies. As self-support, my hands were always busy making handicrafts like knitting, weaving, cross sticks, cushion covers, table covers and so on. When my handicrafts became popular, I saved the money earned to pay for my studies and share with my siblings. Like any other teenagers, I wanted to have fun with my friends and play around, but I refrained from such fun. I stayed in my room and did handicraft work. Later I stayed in a hostel during that time and was also given the responsibility to be the co-captain of 31 younger girls.

After finishing my Bachelor of Religious Education in Bangalore, my aspiration for higher studies made me leave to Secunderbad for Bachelor of Divinity course and then to Chennai and studied M.Th in Missiology and MA in Philosophy, which were very challenging far away from my hometown. In 1999 my mother went away with the Lord. During this time it was a big challenge in my life again. I felt the need to help my younger siblings to get an education. I brought them to Chennai, South India and rented a room so that they could go to school. In order to support my sibling in the big city, in the morning I had to go to college and in the afternoon till evening, I worked part-time at two different places. From 3pm to 5pm I worked at the All India Nurses Fellowship, and from 5pm to 8pm I worked for a counseling magazine. With the minimum salary I received from both part-time jobs, I supported myself and my younger siblings.  

We would hardly go back home during holidays as the expenses for the journey were too high. As a result of my continuous support, my younger siblings were able to graduate and are now working for the government also involved in social work.  

Furthermore, I was engaged with the Naga Student Union Chennai (NSUC) and acted as a Convener for the Social Action Committee during my college years. To take responsibility for the welfare of Naga students in Chennai. During that time, I realized the need for spiritual food and the word of God. This is why I started the Reform Naga Christian Fellowships (NCFC) to gather young Naga people for prayers. I served for several years at the NCFC and was an advisor for five years.    

In 1999, I helped to rescue Indigenous children from North East India who were brought to Chennai, and then sent to different states in South India, where These children were promised free education, food and shelter; however, they were put in an orphanage without any basic provisions and were physically and mentally abused. I continued to fight against Human Trafficking Rescue Team Chennai from 2000 to 2010.

Active member of North East of India Human Trafficking Rescue Team Chennai:

I was associated from 2000-2010 in fighting against human trafficking along with other people from other parts of North East India in Chennai when I was doing studies at Chennai.

My Journey to set up the “Love Care Home” In 2002:

In the year 2002, a child care institution called “LOVE CARE HOME” was established with a VISION ‘To Restore Self-esteem and dignity” for the homeless underprivileged children, orphan children and drop out young boys and girls.

My innermost fight is to get justice for all crime against women, young girls and children. I was supporting seven children with their studies in 2002. They stayed at a private hostel as they came from very remote places and poor families, with some of them being orphans. There was no contact from their families, nor did their families try to contact them.

In 2004, those seven children were sent back home by the wardens because they did not have the proper documents to prove their relationship to their family. I was informed by the hostel wardens and decided to take care of these seven children as they had nowhere else to go. This was the first time in my life that I took care of other children as my own siblings. However, I struggled to find a home. I was verbally abused by many house owners who refused me because I was an unmarried woman with seven children. Finally, a widow gave me a house for rent. The house was in a bad condition as it used to be a chicken coop, but I had no other option. I continued making doormats, traditional clothes and cushion covers to support the children and pay the rent. I also make and sell traditional food made of fermented soybeans, called Axone, which I still sell up until today.

I have saved money for many years to buy a piece of land in Dimapur. In 2007, I built my own hostel on the land. It was a great challenge for me to live in Dimapur from my hometown as I had to face many hardships, such as a lack of support from different communities and not having enough resources, but I was resilient and continued to support needy children and young girls. Until today, I continue to welcome poor children and orphans at the LCH. Besides their regular studies, they are taught organic farming, handicrafts, and cleanliness and so on. The children reunite with their relatives when they are 18 years old In order to preserve their indigenous birth place and identity. There are also many children in LCH who are pursuing their higher studies and are helping the younger children to continue their studies. The home for young girls, women and children for both short stay and long-term rehabilitation.

My Aspiration to help Women and Children:

In 2013, my community called upon me to help as there was a rapid increase in violence against children and women in my state as well as outside my state. As I recognized the urgency of the problem, I felt the need to provide my assistance. I, along with likeminded people founded the organization ‘Nagaland Alliance for Children and Women Rights’ (NACWR). Up to 2015, I served as the President and later I was appointed to the Advisory board till date.

While I was helping women and children in need, I realized that the village people in Nagaland were not aware of the legal laws or connected with formal legal institutions to seek justice. I therefore decided to join the Para-legal Volunteers (PLV) team, which consists of people who assist in legal literacy classes in their respective villages. I served legal institutions to connect with the People to create awareness on how to seek justice through their institutions. For example, there were many cases of women who would divorce through the customary laws. These women were denied any child support from their husband. Moreover, the customary laws on land were discriminatory towards women in my state. On the eve of any Woman’s husband’s death or in case of divorce, the woman would lose ownership of the land she possessed. I helped many women to stand up for their rights and seek justice through formal legal courts.

My engagement on civil society organization:

I engaged myself in a civil society organization to empower Indigenous Women through lobbying, advocacy work and creating awareness. The customary law of the Sumi ethnic group, and other community groups, used to be patriarchal and did not include women in the decision-making process in the family and community as a whole. I along with likeminded people had to lobby the village elders and create awareness on gender equality and safeguard for children and women. It has been a long journey as it was only after many years that two women were accepted in the Executive Member of Western sumi Hoho (WSH). One of them is myself. I have been actively involved in the decision-making bodies among my Sumi Tribe.

I am also on the advisory board of the Nagaland NGOs Forum since 2018, which is a forum to collectively work on common issues and raise the voice for injustice. I'm a part of the Constitution of District Gender Sensitization and Internal Complaint Committee (DGSICC) and the Family Welfare Committee (FWC) in Dimapur Nagaland, where I work as a social worker in the district legal service on women and child issues.

National Board Members of National Action Coordinate Group- Ending Violence Against Children (NACG- EVAC) Indian chapter:

Member of Woman in Governance North East of India:  

From 2015 and till Date I work for the cause of women in governance and decision making across India. Network work for the gender equality and empowerment of women in general.

Indigenous Women Forum of North East India:  It is a network of indigenous women’s organizations across the North East state of India. It has its network across India and Asia. As a focal person for Nagaland state in this platform and contributed immensely for the cause of indigenous women. I have contributed in the research for human trafficking in India with Asia Indigenous People Pact (AIPP). I participated in a number of programs in different Asian countries with support of Asian Indigenous People Pact AIPP.

Western Sumi Hoho: In 2020, I am an executive member of WSH, Civil organization of Sumi indigenous people living in Western part of Nagaland comprising 174 villages. First time the Sumi tribe recognized two women in decision making bodies among the men folks.

Acknowledgment as a social worker:

In 2014, Awarded Best provider of Para Legal Volunteer services by the Dimapur District Legal Service Authority.

In 2015, Awarded Best PLV Nagaland State, Best PLV North East States and Best National PLV Award received from Shri, Narendra Modi PM of India.

In 2017, Life Time Achievement Award Naga Women Hoho Dimapur Nagaland, for the tireless contribution upliftment towards women and children.

In 2018, 1^st Nagaland Red Carpet Social Awards for contribution towards building a better tomorrow.

In 2020, India Inspiration Women Awards, Social Service for Children and Women Empowerment.

Despite all the challenges I had faced on my journey, I always stayed positive. I also encouraged people that whatever life throws at you, you should handle it wisely. To the young people I would like to share that life is full of challenges; take it, and make it a fruitful and meaningful one. The best thing in life is to contribute to your community. Life should be equal for everyone, so promote gender sensitivity and implement it. Women should recognize, support and involve themselves in decision-making processes starting from their home up to the state, national and international level.   

WORDS OF GRATITUDE:

Firstly, I would like to thank the Women Icon powered by the World Women Council affiliated with Times Women.

It's a true honor and privilege for me to be recognized as an Awardee in this International Forum Women Icon powered by the World Women Council affiliated by Times Women for awarding me as a Best Social Activist.

I feel very honored and proud to receive this prestigious award, I accept this award with a deep sense of gratitude , responsibility, and challenge whatever comes ahead in my life .