Eden Enterprises & Ministry formally launched
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 21
“Most Nagas are ‘clueless’ about what to do after their studies with graduation being a norm. We need to change that attitude and priorities our goals,” said Rev. Achu Chang at the launch of the Eden Enterprises and Ministry which among others strives to inculcate a lifestyle of “work and eat, live and share, and learn and help” among the Nagas.
A simple dedicatory function was held here today at Nagaland Missionary Movement premises to mark the formal launching of the entity.
It is a humble venture but started with a big dream and honest intention, said Rev. Achu, the Pastor of Naga Christian Fellowship Pune, who is spearheading the project along with the management team of Vilivi Sheqi Swu, Deku Tsuhah and Shamlong.
A Sad Reality
“Whenever students leave the city after graduation, as a pastor, when I enquire about their future plans, the standard answer is ‘we will decide when we reach home,’” he narrated elaborating his contention about the clueless youth.
Most sit for Nagaland Public Service Commission’ exam as a mandatory exercise though the avenues are becoming exhausted, he opined. “NPSC has become a chronic disease for both the students and parents in Nagaland.”
On the other hand, while the state sends people outside after basic training for work, most of them do not cope with the strict work routine and competition and usually end up entering the call centre, he further informed.
From a comfortable ‘work culture,’ they are thrown to 12 hour routines under harsh conditions and often treated as ‘bonded laborers,’ most cannot survive this transition, he added.
“Even in five star hotels, they survive only for 2-5 months after moving out from their present engagement and they usually join a call centre.”
“While we talk about scarcity of jobs or about sending out Nagas to work, everyday migrants are coming in hordes to Nagaland and they are finding works,” Rev. Achu noted maintaining that there is no shortage of work at home.
However, while no job is beyond dignity, he noted with concern that Nagas look upon many jobs as menial and consequently shuns them.
For example, for simple wiring in a building, an electrician earns around Rs. 4000 (3hrs work) in Kohima and Rs 1000-1200 in Dimapur, he cited from his own personal survey. “Even those working in Saloons are earning comfortably in cities, but our people do not bother for such jobs.”
The Motive
Recognising and often experiencing such ironical circumstances, the enterprises was started to create job opportunities for the youth in Nagaland and create businesses for missions, he further said.
According to Rev. Anchu, the main motive is to identify individual and institutes and train them in various skilled based occupations. Initially, around 10 people will train and intern at Pune and later impart the same knowledge at various locations in the state.
The training fee as well as necessary arrangement will be borne by the Ministry. For those with genuine needs, it will also arrange even food and lodging.
t will not stop with training, but Ministry will also help them set-up the unit for them once they finish their training and mentor it for five years.
The only condition is that, they don’t sell it once they set-up the unit, which is often the case, Rev. Anchu stated.
Different institutes as well as people from various fields, including Nagas, are ready to offer their services, he added. Apart from training, the ministry also aims to impart basic public relation techniques and social etiquette to deal with various situations.
Often, we lack business skills to deal with customer and as a result of which, people usually prefer to buy or take services from others even though we offer same or better options, the Pastor said adding that social etiquette such as decency, respect, politeness is vital for any enterprise to succeed.
It is also exploring avenues with the deaf ministry to differently-abled people to help train and set-up units for them. Other avenues like sports ministry, creative fields and bringing people to church through various initiatives are also being earnestly explored.
In order to finance the project, the ministry is also entering into business venture by introducing eco-friendly products. Its first product, an eco-friendly self-watering pot, was launched today. The first of its kind to be sold outside the state of Maharashtra, it claimed and demonstrated that the eco-friendly pot needs watering only once a week for most of the flowers found in the State.
Besides, Rev. Anchu informed that some like-minded people too contributed their share while he also put his small saving to start the mission.
