Nagaland’s Woman Biker: She’s Giving Riding Classes To Women As Path To Jobs

Kohima: This woman biker is convinced that learning how to ride a bike is the key to employment and the empowerment of women. A keen biker herself, she is providing free classes on riding two-wheelers to women.

Onenienla Imsong or Onen Nenty discovered the state of unemployment in Nagaland last year when she went on a bike tour of the state.  So, Onen came up with an initiative to teach women two-wheeler riding, and empower them with potential future job opportunities and independence, The Wire.in reported quoting fron The Sentinel Digital.

Onen’s team is called KNOW (Kongro Naga on Wheels) and has collaborated with Nagaland Two Wheelers Taxi Association, Kohima to train women, the report added.

The six-day training session began this morning on the road near Raj Bhavan. The team also plan to rope in the Kohima Traffic Police to give lessons on traffic rules, said the report.

“Unemployment runs rampant in Nagaland. During the present time, many people are sitting idle in their houses. Moreover, many students, who were studying in other parts have opted to return home. Thus, learning to rise two-wheelers might foment the possibility of increasing employment,” Onen told The Sentinel Digital.

“Moreover, if women learn how to ride, women will be more mobile and less dependent on others. Students will also be able to ride to schools or colleges by themselves.”

According to local media reports, last year, the state cabinet approved two-wheeler taxi service in Nagaland while addressing concerns on acute traffic congestions due to narrow roads and a rise in the number of vehicles.

Onen was the first woman to complete a solo bike tour of Nagaland in July last year during which she spread the message of ‘women empowerment’.

“After the conclusion of my solo bike tour last year, I started receiving a lot of requests from women who wanted to learn how to ride two wheelers. Since people have a lot of time on their hands owing to the COVID-19 triggered lockdown, I assumed it would be the right time to impart lessons in the regard,” she told The Sentinel Digital.

So far, 61 women have come forward to learn.