Call for holistic growth in eastern Naga areas

MON, JULY 23 (MExN): Noting with poignancy to the various issues ailing holistic development in the Eastern Nagaland, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner Alemtemshi Jamir, Wednesday suggested on the need to seriously work out details as panacea for true developmental process to take place and yield positive results.

Addressing the students community on the topic ‘developing an illumine society,’ the ACS expressed serious concern on the poor growth report on various fronts. He was the speaking in the on-going 2nd general conference of the ENSF at Mon town. ACS regretted that Mon and Tuensang district fared poorly on human development, gender issues, poverty, literacy, telecommunication, road and production while he also impressed upon the students to think seriously on these issues. He said this while referring to the human development report of the government.

While acknowledging poor performance of government schools in contrast to the private educational institutes, the ACS advocated the need to promote more private educational institutes in the region. On the diminishing statistics of patients getting health care services from the district hospitals, he emphasized on the need to promote private nursing homes and hospitals. ‘Holistic development is measured in terms of livelihood of the people, literacy, health care and gender equality besides many other things,’ the ACS said. He urged the student leaders to take up issues to pave way for true development to take place.

Also drawing attention of the students on low productivity in agriculture and allied sectors in the area despite 83 percent of the population as farmers and 33 percent of the state land mass, the ACS informed that productivity has been on the low. In the light of the circumstances, he urged the student leaders to brush up activities to take farming on economical viable aspect.

Commenting on the census, the ACS expressed serious concern on the prevailing ‘bogus statistics’ furnished to the government. Terming it as a factor foreshadowing transparency, accountability and realistic development, he appealed to project correct census in the forthcoming census drive. Expressing derision on ‘bogus census,’ the ACS urged the apex student organizations namely ENSF and the NSF to draw closer and think collectively for Naga family to progress. He also emphasized on the need for peace and tranquility to prevail for all development to take shape stating, ‘peace was prerequisite for development’.

Deputy Commissioner Dinesh Kumar, while highlighting on the changing job scenarios and advancement, stressed on the need to keep abreast with the rest of the world. He also encouraged the students’ community to work towards reversing the backward tag and capitalize on the various positive aspects on what the society could offer to boost tourism.

Congratulating ENSF officials on the successful completion of its tenure in office, Naga Students Federation (NSF) president Metsikhoyo highlighted various issues ailing the society including the recent NPSC scam.

Advocating the need to cleanse the system for more transparency and justice to prevail, he reiterated that NSF was fighting for total revamp of the recruiting body. Also commenting on the recent bill passed in the floor of the assembly on length of service, he expressed confidence that it would go a long way to help ease growing educated unemployment problem in the state.
The NSF president also impressed upon the need for ENSF and ENPO to acknowledge the common issues and rise up to the occasion and to join hands with the NSF. ‘Let us nurture the tradition of unity fostered by our forefathers in the days of yore,’ he implored.

The NSF delegation led by president Metsikhoyo and the tribunal general and former NSF president Imchatoba also paid a visit to Chi village and paid tributes to late Angh Wangkhao. Talking to villagers, NSF president acknowledged the concern shown by the Angh for general welfare of the Nagas. Terming his demise as a great loss for the society, NSF delegation expressed confidence that the village and the new Angh would continue to uphold the tradition and legacy left behind by the chief Angh.