File picture of a vendor selling eggs in Laos. The country hopes to emulate Nagaland?s success in augmenting the role of women in development

Kohima, Nov. 21: Nagaland and Laos may be geographically far apart from one another, but a common cause is set to bring the two countries closer in many ways.

So impressed is the tiny Southeast Asian nation with the work done under a project called the Nagaland Empowerment of People through Economic Development (Neped) that its officials have not only exchanged notes, but are also planning to visit the state for a ?first-hand experience?.

A Neped delegation was in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, last month. Chozule Kikhi, a member of the team, said officials of that country were ?amazed? on being told how Naga women were motivated to participate in protection of the environment and economic development.

Neped is one of the 33 projects in India financed by the Indo-Canada Economic Facility, all of which have a component on gender issues.

?Women are now playing a major part in micro-credit success. Our area of operation is very simple. Extending credit to women and through women is working wonders for us. The recovery is fast and they are more committed. Laos government officials were very receptive to the idea of increasing the role of women in development activities. They were impressed by our model. We exchanged notes and they are keen to visit the state. As and when they come, it will be a big honour for the state,? Kikhi said.

Solveig Schuster, the Canadian High Commission?s head of development cooperation in India, Nepal and Bhutan, echoed Kikhi.

The Canadian bureaucrat, who was on a visit to Kohima today, said South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa were lagging behind in addressing women?s issues, including health and education.

Started 11 years ago, Neped?s first goal is ?empowering people through environment development?. It then lays stress on economic development and, finally, empowerment of women.

Micro-financing through the Indo-Canada Economic Facility has worked wonders in 140 villages across Nagaland, where forest management and agriculture are becoming sustainable processes.

Nagaland participated in a conference last month in Bangkok, where 1,600 women from various countries had been invited. It was organised by the Association of Women?s Rights in Development.

The connection between Laos and Nagaland lies not only in empowerment of women, but also in jhum, or shifting cultivation.

Laos has banned it, while Nagaland has adopted a ?holistic approach? towards it.

Kikhi said Nagaland could learn a lot from Laos on what to do and not to do in controlling slash-and-burn cultivation. Laos has relocated jhum farmers to the plains, though the move has not gone down well with the people. ?We have to learn from these failures,? Kikhi said.