Pukhayi Assumi, MLA and Advisor, Food & Civil Supplies, inaugurated the office of the Dimapur District GB’s Association at the Naga Shopping Arcade on October 15. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 15
Pukhayi Assumi, MLA and Advisor, Food & Civil Supplies said that gaonburas, as grassroots leaders, may be at the bottom of the governance hierarchy but its authority, if dispensed prudently, can have far reaching impact in the society. Assumi was speaking at the office inauguration programme of the Dimapur District GB’s Association (DDGBA) at the Naga Shopping Arcade on October 15.
He said that the significance of the role in the Naga social structure is such that any government programme or activity hardly goes ahead without consultation with the gaonburas. “One should comprehend the significance of the gaonbura. You are the guardians of the society,” he said.
“The condition of the naga society is not so reassuring. I often tell that we are heading nowhere, that we are heading to chaos and confusion.
At the current rate, our situation might even be worse than Afghanistan,” he added. In such a situation, he said that the role of the gaonburas becomes all the more significant. As the guardians of the society, he added that the gaonburas should serve as the enablers towards ensuring an environment that is conducive to change for the better.
With members representing as many as 35 different communities, he said that the DDGBA should be exemplars of cohesiveness by ensuring that individual issues do not turn communal in nature.
He further lamented how the Nagas have lost the dignity to produce “our own food” as the people have gotten used to getting highly subsidised rice from the government. Despite living in a region gifted with a highly fertile soil, he said that the Nagas have not been able to exploit it for self-sustenance.
Representatives from the Nagaland Gaon Bura Federation, GB's Union Dimapur (Sadar) and Naga Council Dimapur also spoke at the programme. The GB’s Union representative said that as the gaon buras, while ensuring peace and harmony, should uphold the values of the Naga customary practices.
NGBF, Vice President, Tohoshe Awomi, said that the gaon buras are not paid government servants but they serve as the field workers of the government given the respect accorded to the position.
