‘Corruption needs to be Controlled’

Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 23

Nagaland Governor Dr. Ashwani Kumar today cited three levels for checking corruption and observed that the poor, weakest, honest and law abiding people are the worst affected. He asserted that corruption needs to be controlled.

While addressing his first press conference as Governor, Kumar identified three levels for checking corruption. The first, he said is the family where parents need to inculcate integrity, values and character in a child. The second, he pointed to education, where schools, colleges and universities are required to teach values and ethics so that students are empowered to take ethical decisions. Finally, he cited the society as the third level to check corruption. The Governor pointed out that in the third level students enter the society, organization and become responsible officers. He added, if the systems in society where they are working are strict, they will be honest and ultimately the corruption level will be checked.

Describing Naga Youths as literate and talented, Governor Kumar expressed the need for good teachers. “Unless we have good teachers, society will not progress”, he said. While complimenting teachers of Nagaland for 80% literacy rate, he urged them to immediately start working to pass through the ‘Teachers Eligibility Test.’ 2015 has been set as the deadline for every teacher to pass the Eligibility Test.

The Governor emphasized that necessary arrangements should be made to help teachers to get the required capacity building to improve their knowledge and skills so that they could further impart the same to the students. In this regard, he requested the state government to be determined not to seek any further extension of the 2015 deadline. “That is where quality will be added, by adding infrastructure you may make life comfortable but quality of teaching will only be added only by the teachers,” he observed.

The Governor complimented Naga medical student Rhondemo A Kikon for winning accolade at the Leiden International Medical Student Conference in Europe. He expressed happiness on the achievement of Kikon, who did a study on control of TB in Mon district Hospital. “This is the kind of thing that people from areas which are considered remote can accomplish. This is what the world is looking for and the sky is the limit for us”, the Governor commented. He said primary and middle school education should be given utmost importance and suggested, “Start improving from the bottom and momentum will come from its own.”

Asked to comment on the peace process, the Governor responded it was still too early for him and he was still in the process of studying the issue. He however admitted that he was briefed on such matters in Delhi as well as by the Chief Minister of Nagaland. Nonetheless, he remarked that “No progress can be made without peace,” and expressed his wish to see industries come up, generates employment so that progress will follow.

Emphasizing on the importance of Earth Hour, the Governor said that parents must explain to the children the importance of observing Earth Hour. He noted that Earth Hour is important not only for Nagaland but for the entire globe. 

Earlier, in his message to the people of Nagaland, the Governor looked forward to cooperation and support from all sections of Naga people. Rationalizing the very purpose for the existence of a government, he assured that “My government will make every effort to bring peace and work for the welfare of the people of Nagaland.”

Expressing his desire to meeting people from different walks of society, the Governor had said “I am aware that the youth of Nagaland are exceptionally talented. They are energetic and their vibrant and potential needs to be channelized into creative endeavors.”

While acknowledging that Nagaland had undergone conflict and difficult times over the past several decades, he expressed faith in Naga society and the Naga people to collectively achieve lasting peace.  

(With inputs from DIPR)