Salhoutuonuo Kruse

Salhoutuonuo Kruneilie was born 15 December 1966 to an Angami Naga family from Kiruphema Bawe. She studied at Ministers' Hill Baptist Higher Secondary School in Kohima and later, completed her graduation from Kohima College. She married Kevisekho Kruse, an engineer on 2 October 1986.{{cite web |date=10 March 2023 |title=Salhoutuonuo Kruse, the first woman minister of Nagaland, made history in her debut fight |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/politics/salhoutuonuo-kruse-the-first-woman-minister-of-nagaland-made-history-in-her-debut-fight-16137921.htm |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=CNBC TV18}} Kevisekho retired as a chief engineer of Nagaland's Public Health Engineering Department. He later joined politics.{{Cite news |last=Morung Express News |date=4 June 2021 |title=Condolences pour in for Er Kevisekho Kruse |url=https://morungexpress.com/condolences-pour-in-for-er-kevisekho-kruse |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=The Morung Express}}

Kruse served as the President of the Angamimiapfü Mechü Krotho (now known as Angami Women Organization) from 2011 to 2014.{{cite web|url=https://morungexpress.com/angami-women-organization-triennial-meet-held|title=Angami Women Organization triennial meet held|date=9 May 2011|website=The Morung Express|access-date=5 March 2023}}{{cite web |date=2 March 2023 |title=Hekhani Jakhalu, Salhoutuonuo Kruse become first women MLAs in Nagaland assembly |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/election/hekhani-jakhalu-salhoutuonuo-kruse-become-first-women-mlas-in-nagaland-assembly-1196494.html |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=Deccan Herald}} She is also an advisory board member of the Angami Public Organization, which is the male-dominated apex tribal body for the Angami Naga.

Kruse's husband, Kevisekho Kruse, joined Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in 2018 and fought the Nagaland Legislative Assembly election that year from the Western Angami Assembly seat as the party candidate. He lost to Naga People's Front (NPF) candidate Keneizhakho Nakhro by 694 votes. Later, Nakhro joined the NDPP in 2022.{{Cite news |last=Morung Express News |date=29 April 2022 |title=Twenty one NPF MLAs join NDPP |url=https://morungexpress.com/twenty-one-npf-mlas-join-ndpp |access-date= |work=The Morung Express}}

Kruse's husband died on 4 June 2021 due to complications arising from COVID-19. Nakhro in his condolence message stated, "He was a visionary leader full of impeccable knowledge, hopes, positive energy and keenly loved across by many for his lively nature and simplicity." In the subsequent state elections, Salhoutuonuo Kruse was given the NDPP party ticket over sitting MLA Nakhro for the Western Angami seat. The latter then fought the election as an independent candidate.{{cite web |last=Kalita |first=Kangkan |date=3 March 2023 |title=Nagaland gets its 1st women MLAs |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/nagaland/news/nagaland-gets-its-1st-women-mlas/articleshow/98373779.cms |access-date=3 March 2023 |website=The Times of India}} By standing for elections, Kruse said that she wanted to fulfil her husband's political vision.{{Cite news |date=7 March 2023 |title=Salhoutuonuo Kruse- first woman minister of Nagaland |url=https://morungexpress.com/salhoutuonuo-kruse-first-woman-minister-of-nagaland |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=The Morung Express}}

At the time of filing her nominations, Kruse was one of the 104 crorepati (₹10 million rupees) candidates in fray. With declared assets of over ₹129 million, she was in the top ten richest candidates standing for the state elections.{{Cite news |last=Jamir |first=Moa |date=15 February 2023 |title=Nagaland Elections: 104 ‘crorepatis' in the fray; other with just over Rs 5000 |url=https://morungexpress.com/nagaland-elections-105-crorepatis-in-the-fray-other-with-just-over-rs-5000 |access-date=13 September 2023 |work=The Morung Express}} The elections for the 14th Nagaland State Legislative Assembly was held on 27 February 2023. It was largely peaceful albeit a few pre- and post-poll incidents. However, it was marked with several allegations of proxy voting and other irregularities.{{Cite news |last=Jamir |first=Moa |date=30 December 2023 |title=Nagaland 2023: A Timeline |url=https://morungexpress.com/nagaland-2023-a-timeline |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=The Morung Express}} The election results were announced on 2 March 2023. Kruse won the elections for the Western Angami seat by a margin of seven votes. She counted 7078 votes, while her nearest rival and sitting MLA Nakhro received 7071 votes.{{Cite news |last=Morung Express News |date=2 March 2023 |title=14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly Elections Result |url=https://morungexpress.com/14th-nagaland-legislative-assembly-elections-result |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=The Morung Express}} By winning the seat, Kruse became one of the first elected women of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly along with Hekani Jakhalu.{{cite news |last=Dhar |first=Aniruddha |date=2 March 2023 |title=Nagaland scripts history in assembly election, elects 2 women candidates for first time |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nagaland-scripts-history-in-assembly-poll-elects-2-women-mlas-salhoutuonuo-kruse-hekani-jakhalu-for-first-time-101677742088284.html |access-date=2 March 2023 |website=Hindustan Times}} Kruse later attributed her electoral victory by an extremely small margin to "God's providence."{{Cite news |last=Morung Express News |date=14 March 2023 |title=‘Winning by 7 votes only through God’s providence,’ says Kruse |url=https://morungexpress.com/winning-by-7-votes-only-through-gods-providence-says-kruse |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=The Morung Express}}

During her first term as the Member of the Legislative Assembly, Kruse was appointed the Minister for Women Resource Development & Horticulture in the 5th Rio ministry.{{cite web |date=9 March 2023 |title=Nagaland Cabinet allots portfolios |url=https://morungexpress.com/nagaland-cabinet-allots-portfolios |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=The Morung Express}} She became the first female cabinet minister in Nagaland.

During her leadership, the state horticulture department, under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture launched the 'Horticulture Model Village' (HMV) programme in Nagaland. One village in each of the state's districts was idenfited with an emphasis on increasing horticulture crops.{{Cite web |last=Page News Service |first= |date=2023-09-15 |title=Kruse Launches Horticulture Model Village Project - Nagaland Page |url=https://nagalandpage.com/kruse-launches-horticulture-model-village-project/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Nagaland Page |language=en-US}} In September 2023, Kruse declared Khonoma village the first HMV.{{Cite web |last=Morung Express News |date=15 September 2023 |title=Khonoma village to be the 1st horticulture model village |url=https://morungexpress.com/khonoma-village-to-be-the-1st-horticulture-model-village |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=The Morung Express}} During the fourth Organic Orange Festival of Rüsoma village, Kruse announced the inclusion of the village under HMV 2025. In 2024 the village had over 14000 fruit-bearing orange trees and over 28000 saplings planted. She suggested improving intercultural practices and indigenous wisdom and integrate modern horticultural techniques and development. She promised farmers market linkages for sale.{{Cite news |last=Morung Express News |date=24 January 2024 |title=Celebrating bountiful harvest, 4th Organic Orange Festival begins in Rüsoma Village |url=https://morungexpress.com/celebrating-bountiful-harvest-4th-organic-orange-festival-begins-in-rsoma-village |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=The Morung Express}} On 10 September 2024, Kruse announced the plan to set up an apple processing unit at Thanamir village which produces 40-50 tons of apple every year. The fruit is available from July to December every year. She also encouraged villagers to cultivate other suitable crops with the assurance that the state's horticulture department will provide assistance in market linkages, technical knowledge, and other support.{{Cite news |last=Morung Express News |date=11 September 2024 |title=Nagaland’s Thanamir produces 40-50 tonnes of apples annually |url=https://morungexpress.com/nagalands-thanamir-produces-40-50-tonnes-of-apples-annually |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=The Morung Express}}

Kruse is a Baptist Christian and she attends Ministers' Hill Baptist Church in Kohima.

She was married to Kevisekho Kruse. They married on 2 October 1986 and had two daughters together. He later died from complications of COVID-19 on 4 June 2021 at age 60.{{cite web|url=https://easternmirrornagaland.com/ndpp-holds-service-in-memory-of-k-kruse/|title=NDPP holds memorial service in memory of K Kruse|date=5 June 2022|website=Eastern Mirror|access-date=4 March 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://nagalandpage.com/various-organisations-mourn-death-of-kruse/?amp=1|title=Various Organisations Mourn Death Of Kruse|date=4 June 2021|website=Nagaland Page|access-date=4 March 2023}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1967 births

Category:Nagaland MLAs 2023–2028

Category:People from Kohima district

Category:People from Kohima

Category:Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party politicians

Category:Women from Nagaland

Category:21st-century Indian women politicians