Khekiye K Sema IAS (Rtd)
3rd Mile Thilixu Village; Chümoukedima
As 2025 fades into the horizon we have no option but to open a fresh chapter of 2026 with serious questions that Nagas of Nagaland must find the courage to ask in order to salvage an honorable solution for our common destiny. Towards this end, who are better placed than the Educated Unemployed Youths (EUYs) capable of recognizing the harsh realities that surrounds them and start raising relevant questions directed at the source(s) causing this critical logjam as a collective group of people on an “Organized Common Platform” looking for their common future? I have often heard the voice of hopelessness of our EUYs feeling demeaned to helplessly continue relying on parental income despite all the qualification under their belt and yet being unable to channelize the same purposefully. I do believe it’s time for reality check:
The brutal truth that needs to be registered in our mind is that no Government can provide jobs to thousands upon thousands of graduates/post graduates who are passing out through our colleges and Universities each year. ‘The Nagaland Directorate of Economics and Statistics released the 2025 Survey Report on Employment, Unemployment, Skill and Migration in the state, exposing wide income disparity, low technical skills, and persistent unemployment across the state with unemployment at 16.07 per cent’. This percentage is limited to only those who have registered their status with the Directorate of Economics and Statistics while many have not and therefore this 16.07% is very likely to be higher and will steadily go upwards with each passing year. How does the future look like for our EUYs under this scenario?
The Government of Nagaland is paying less attention to merit and focusing more on backdoor political appointments no matter how loud the voices of resentment are sounded. With a paralyzed system being run by an “Opposition-less Government” without breaks, how does the future look like for our EUYs?
The difficult and oppressive situation is further compounded by low technical skills amongst our EUYs. So entering an entrepreneurial initiatives is challenging by itself but there are other serious impediments that makes any entrepreneurial efforts futile because of the merciless ‘sovereignty tax’ being imposed by 30 odd so-called “National Worker Factions” hypocritically fighting for 30 different types of “Sovereignty” for our Naga people. So how does the future look like for our EUYs in a scenario such as this?
Questions of this nature can callously go on and on without spending a meaningful moment for answers because our Naga society seems to have misplaced our moral compass and is now more sharply focused on M-O-N-E-Y from top to bottom. Seeking for solution in a stifling landscape such as this is indeed a very challenging proposition. Be that as it may, I am still inclined to believe that our Educated Unemployed Youths can become a powerful force to be reckoned with if they collectively put their heart, mind and energy to find solutions to put an end to this chronic corruption ridden environment once for all. So, can our Educated Unemployed Youths dare to pick up this challenge and responsibility and make 2026 a resounding year for the Educated Unemployed Youths in Nagaland?
The time is rife to get organized to call spade a spade and have the courage to stand your ground and call the shots for the greater good of all. The common man has suffered long enough and you as the educated lot can be the catalyst to facilitate a saner world. May The Almighty bless you all with wisdom and help and guide you in your journey into 2026.
In conclusion may I say: My gate at 3rd Mile Thilixu Village is wide open to welcome you all. With all my shortcomings, I am more than prepared to stand with you all every step of the way for a meaningful discussion on the subject of going forward. Happy New Year and God Bless all out there.
