Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 10
Chief Minister TR Zeliang today said that his government is well aware of the growing dissatisfaction expressed by various sections, particularly the youth.
“We cannot deny that our system of functioning is not without faults. The question today is whether we will continue this way and fall into decline as a state and as a people. Once we lose our conviction of truth, justice and will, our strength as a people and as a State will fail,” he said while addressing “Colloquium on Road Connectivity” here at State Banquet Hall.
He said that the government has heard the voice of the people for a resolute change and transformation within us. He assured that his Government is committed to better transparency and accountability and will enact and uphold mechanisms towards that end. “We are working for more effective development of roads and communication, better health care, improvement of educational sectors and infrastructure, enact strategic policies to address backlog salary issues under various Central programs.”
He said the government will continue with its vision to upgrade skills among the youth for self sustainable employment and women related schemes and programmes to reach the targeted beneficiaries through intensified publicity.
“We must revive our work ethics and work culture and understand that everything cannot be alleviated by the coffers of the state. It needs the active participation of all the stakeholders to bring about a reformation and change within the state,” Zeliang said and wanted both the government and the people to work with better co-operation and ensure that the government system and its programs for effective development are realised on the ground.
He said the “state is passing through a period of great confusion, division amongst ourselves and we have an angry and frustrated younger generation.”
Can your view, opinion and inputs bring any change in the fight against corruption? The answer is an absolute 'Yes'. You can do something to help in ushering truth, justice and a common will to move forward as a state. To this end, my government and I, have invited all Civil Societies'/ NGO's and the church leaders, to sit down for an open discussion and pave the way ahead for us. We look to the people, the responsible citizens to halt the trend of further decline, he said.
“By your watchful vigilance and support we can bring a change in the state and we look towards a fruitful honest consultation,” he said in his keynote address.
He said to create a green city the first and foremost work is to connect the city with good road connectivity, followed by adequate electricity, water supply and good sanitation etc.
“But if the road is not built according to the needs of your city without proper drainage systems, where is the room to keep your city clean? Those people who are always mocking the Government will never bring the solution, but it is the responsibility of you and me who are a part of the Government to come out with solution,” the chief minister said.
He said the need of the hour is to bring a change in the working system, wherever necessary which is the main reason for this wide consultation and deliberation.
“If we can bring a change by putting our heads together this day will go down in the history of Nagaland,” he said. He said we can promote our youth to get skilled training and high tech for quality works but unless we set a system, there is no future for our youth to find employment for quality works particularly in road connectivity sectors. If we set a proper system our contractors will go into quality competition and our youth can get employed in unskilled and skilled work. They can be employed in the private sector of our own Naga firms without depending on the Government. Our society can do much better than others if we give enough opportunity to our talented youth, he said.
“I am prepared to start over and bring corrective measures starting from myself to my colleagues, bureaucrats and other officials. If the Engineers supervises the work regularly on the spot, wherever the road projects are built, why can't we produce better roads and bridges in our state? We can't perform miracles overnight, but there has to be a starting point and I strongly feel that transparency within the Department itself will be a good beginning,” the chief minister said.
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