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Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 1
Social activist Niketu Iralu and educationist Dr P Kilemsungla have been conferred with the prestigious state level award for distinguished senior citizens in recognition of their exemplary and dedicated services to the humanity throughout their life.
The award was handed today by Noke Wangnao, advisor home guards and civil defence during the observance of International Day of Older Persons here at Hotel Japfu, organized by department of social welfare, Nagaland.
The recipients of Kohima district level award include Seno Vihienuo and Kelhikhrie Rupreo.
RECIPIENTS OF SENIOR CITIZENS AWARD
STATE LEVEL
Niketu Iralu: Iralu is a social worker and searcher for healing, peace and proper development of society.
He studied in St. Edmund's and Union Christian College, Shillong & Barapani and Madras Christian College, Tambaram.
He left college before completion of BA degree in 1957 to work full-time with Moral Re-Armament (MRA), now called Initiatives of Change (IofC) in all parts of India.
He also worked abroad with IofC’s programmes/projects in the following countries:-
Asia and the Pacific nations: Lebanon, Syria, Sri Lanka, Japan, Hong Kong. Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Australia.
Europe, North and South America: UK, Republic of Ireland, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Italy and Cyprus; USA, Canada, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.
He was also Director, Asia Plateau, Centre for lofC India, Panchgani, Maharashtra; Trustee, Friends of Moral Re-Armament (India); Member, International Council of Initiatives for Change; Chairman, Naga Reconciliation Commission; and Member, then Chairman, Peace Committee, Nagaland Baptist Church Council.
Iralu was also the first manager and counsellor of Mount Gilead Home for Counselling and Rehabilitation of Drug and Alcohol Addicts started by Naga Mothers Association and assisted by Kripa Foundation, Mumbai.
He also served as Trustee, Martin Luther Christian University, Shillong.
Currently, he is Trustee, Centre for Northeast Studies & Policy Research, New Delhi and Guwahati and Member, Board of Trustees, Patkai Christian College, Chümoukedima-Seithekema, Nagaland.
He was a recipient of Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Award for National Integration 2005 and Upendra Nath Brahma Soldier of Humanity Award 2011.
Dr P Kilemsungla: She served as a Member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) from 19.08.2013 to 29.02.2016. She was the first to be appointed to the UPSC from the state of Nagaland.
Prior to UPSC, she served as a Member and also Acting Chairman of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC). Dr Kilemsungla is widely recognized in the state for her contributions in the field of education.
Hailing from Mokokchung district, she completed her school education in Nagaland and her college studies at Lady Keane College, Shillong.
She received her BA degree from Gauhati University in 1971 and Masters of Arts in Education in 1973 from the same university.
She obtained a PhD in Teacher Education from the North Eastern Hills University in 1992. Dr Kilemsungla started her career in 1974 as a Lecturer in Kohima Arts College. In 1975 she joined the Nagaland College of Teachers' Education. In 1992, she became the Principal of the District Institute of Educational Training, Kohima and in which capacity, she pioneered the training of community leaders for ensuring qualitative elementary education in the state.
From 1996 to 2002, she served as the principal of the Government Polytechnic, Kohima where she introduced the 'Community Polytechnic Scheme' to empower youth with a background on non-technical education with technical skills.
Later she served as the Principal of the Nagaland College of Teacher's Education from 2002-2007 and from 2007 to 2013, as a Member of the NPSC.
Dr Kilemsungla has been associated with various National and State Committees and has made vital contributions in the educational and social arena of the state.
She was an expert member on National Committee on Capacity Building of Teacher Education and the State Co-ordinator on the project of Community Development through Polytechnics'.
She also served as a Member of the Nagaland State Women Empowerment; Action Committee for Women's Empowerment; Member of the Executive Council and the Board of Undergraduate Studies, Nagaland University; and Member on the Advisory Board of the National Curriculum Framework.
Dr Kilemsungla was also a Team Member for a World Bank Project on Technical Education in Nagaland and Member of the Academic Team for study of Democracy in Denmark in 2001 from the State of Nagaland. She attended the 19th Annual Learning Differences Conference at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (USA) in 2003.
As a Member of the NPSC, Dr Kilemsungla was instrumental in introducing a common curriculum for the Nagaland Civil Services Examinations which was implemented from 2012.
In 2014, Dr Kilemsungla was conferred the Padmashree Award in the field of Literature & Social Science.
Presently, she is a Member of Governing Counsel of North East Christian University (NECU) and the Chairperson of the Governing Body of Kohima Science College, Jotsoma.
DISTRICT LEVEL
Seno Vihienuo: Seno Vihienuo is a church worker. She served as office bearers of Angamimiapfii Mechii Krotho (AMK) for 12 years and served as school teacher for 32 years.
Kelhikhrie Rupreo: Kelhikhrie Rupreo passed Nagaland Junior teachers training institute examination in 1986. He undergone Bharat Scouts & Guides Cubmaster preliminary training in 1968. A retired teacher, he is associated with church activities, elder groups and Village Development Board.
