Khrienuo Metha Becomes First Female Elected Head Of A Tribal Clan In Nagaland

Khrienuo Metha: A new path has been paved in the traditional, male-dominated Naga society by Khrienuo Metha.

The district unit of a Naga tribal clan elected her as its president on January 29 in Dimapur. The election of the retired Nagaland Civil Service Officer by Metha Thinuo Krotho, a traditional body of the Metha clan, has been hailed as a breakthrough feat as a traditional civil society in Nagaland headed by a woman was highly exceptional, until now.

In an interview with a local daily, the newly elected president told, "We, being such a patriarchal kind of society, every meeting, every kind of union or village meeting, most meetings, women are not required to be there. Therefore, many meetings we miss out on what is happening with the village issues, clan issues, or those serious matters, we tend to be away from it."

Furthermore, she thanked her clan for entrusting her with the responsibility as well as for being progressive and far-sighted with their approach towards power-sharing.

Khrienuo Metha further added, “I hope that all of you support me, and other tribes also believe in it. I have always felt that we women need to do our bit, not fight.”

Her fellow-clansman Abu Metha, also the advisor to Nagaland chief minister, expressed his delight on the election of Khrienuo Metha and how it will bring the much-needed change in the Naga society. 

"It’s really a big deal and it sends out such a strong message. We cannot undermine the fact that this decision directly challenges traditional attitudes. But if we are to progress, it is stories like these that need to challenge and change our thought process and archival attitudes,” he said.

He further added that it is important to have a progressive and egalitarian outlook to embrace positive changes and do away with negative and exclusionary aspects of traditions and customs.

Dr Rosemary Dzüvichü, advisor of Naga Mothers Association and head of women studies in Nagaland University, also welcomed the empowering decision made by the clan.

She stated, “The Metha clan indeed is progressive. Khrienuo has proved herself as a successful bureaucrat and a leader. We wish her all the best. She will be the best among equals."

About Khrienuo Metha

This is not the first time that the retired bureaucrat has shattered the glass ceiling.

Khrienuo is also the first woman NCS officer from the Angami tribe of the state in 1983 as well as the first woman to be appointed as a Deputy Commissioner in Nagaland in 2009.

She retired as the Commissioner and the Secretary to the government of Nagaland in 2017.

Feature Image Credits: Morung Express