Alana Golmei & Yishey Doma Bhutia receive Grassroots Women of the Decade Achievers Award

Assocham Ladies League Honors 36 Women Across India

Alana Golmei & Yishey Doma Bhutia. Pic: Bruce K. Thangkhal.

TWO prominent women from the Northeast—Alana Golmei from Manipur, co-founder of the 24X7 North East Support Centre & Helpline (NESCH), and Yishey Doma Bhutia, an accomplished writer and journalist from Sikkim—were honoured with the prestigious Grassroots Women of the Decade Achievers Award. The awards were presented by M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Urban Development, Housing, and Urban Poverty Alleviation, at a ceremony held at Leela Palace, New Delhi on September 25, 2024 (Thursday). They were recognized alongside 34 other exemplary women achievers from across India.

The event, organized by the Assocham Ladies League—India’s first all-women industry chamber committed to promoting women’s leadership—celebrated the achievements and contributions of 36 women from various regions, including Soda, Sikkim, Mumbai, Madurai, Manipur, Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttarakhand.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest, M. Venkaiah Naidu, remarked, “It is vital for us to reflect on the role of women in our socio-political and economic contexts. Women account for half of our population, and we cannot progress without their full contribution.”

Alana Golmei receiving the award. Pic: Bruce K. Thangkhal.

Alana Golmei, in her acceptance speech, expressed, “I am humbled and honored to receive this award. My heartfelt thanks to Assocham Ladies League for recognizing my efforts. This award is dedicated to the entire NESCH team, who have worked tirelessly to help the Northeast community.”

Golmei, who has been a relentless advocate against discrimination and racism faced by people from Northeast India, especially women, shared her vision of helping those in need without expecting accolades. She founded NESCH in 2007 to combat harassment and abuse targeting Northeasterners in metros.

Alana Golmei's contributions have been widely recognized, and she continues to be an active voice addressing the issues of the Northeast community. In addition to her work with NESCH, she founded the Pann Nu Foundation, which focuses on the challenges faced by Burmese women, and she serves as Director of Burma Centre Delhi, working with Burmese refugees. Golmei has also been involved in numerous discussions and initiatives regarding racial discrimination, women's safety, and peacebuilding.

Yishey Doma Bhutia receiving the award. Pic: Bruce K. Thangkhal.

Yishey Doma Bhutia, a renowned writer and journalist from Sikkim, was also honored for her work highlighting the culture of Sikkim and the legacy of the indigenous Lepcha tribe. Bhutia emphasized the importance of fostering a closer connection between the Northeast and mainland India, noting that the award represents a step towards bridging this gap.

Dr. Harbeen Arora, Global Chairperson of Assocham Ladies League, praised the women achievers, stating, “We are proud to honor women leadership across the country in various sectors essential for the holistic development of our nation.”

The event concluded with Louis Sailer, General Manager of Leela Palace, expressing his support for women empowerment initiatives, affirming the hotel's commitment to such causes.

~ Bruce K. Thangkhal, Media Incharge
North East Support Centre & Helpline
New Delhi

Share: