Mrs. Zaputuo Angami:

Known fondly as ‘Ama’ or ‘Mother’, Zaputou-ü is an Angami lady hailing from Dihoma Village, under Kohima district. Born in 1923, she worked as a nurse in the Kohima Government Hospital. Zaputuo became a widow in 1965 when she lost her husband, a jawan in the Indian Army. They have one daughter, Neibanuo.

She is the founder and present President of the Kohima Orphanage & Destitute Home. The home was established for the welfare of orphans back in 1973.

Mrs. Zaputuo Angami has also started a primary school with the help of her daughter, Mrs. Neibanuo Angami and other family members, which is recognized by the Nagaland Board of School Education. The school has now been provided with three government teachers.

Mrs. Zaputuo Angami has been widely recognized for her dedication and service for the welfare of her children.

In 2004 she received Rajiv Gandhi Manav Sewa . The Rajiv Gandhi Manav Sewa Award was instituted on August 20, 1994 on the occasion of the 50th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi.

In 2009, Mrs. Zaputou Angami, was one among the 24 conferred with “Real Heroes” by CNN-IBN – Reliance Industries Limited – India’s largest private sector enterprise.

Some of the recognition that she has received are..

•    The Governor’s Gold Medal and Certificate for contribution to Social Service
•    The Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award for Service to Children in 2004
•    Commendation Certificate during the 50th Anniversary of Independence by the Government of Nagaland
•    Lifetime Achievement Award on International Women’s Day by the Government of Nagaland, Department of Women Development
•    CNN-IBN Real Heroes Award, 2009
•    Rotary Club Certification of Appreciation in 2005
•    Karmayogi Award by the International Association of Lion’s Club in 2000
•    Certificate of Honor by the Janjati Vikas Samiti, Nagaland
•    Certificate of Excellence by the Tripura State Council for Child Welfare in 2002

Ms. Neibanuo Angami:

Neibanuo is the only child of Mrs. Zaputuo Angami. Along with her mother, Neibanuo looks after the Kohima Orphanage and Destitute Home and has given her whole life towards the care and support of the children. Neibanuo has been serving the children from a very early age having had to give up her school education because there was no one else in the house to help out. She took up a government job in 1987 and married in 1988.

However, after 16 years she divorced from her husband in 2003 with whom she has 3 children. Neibanuo’s greatest worry is about the financial state of the home. The KODH has no stable source of income and is managed only by free will donations by well wishers. The state Government gives a small grant every year which does not even cover the basic cost of food. She looks after the small kitchen garden from where the home gets its vegetables and the few livestock the home keeps, which they sell in times of grave financial need.