Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 28
A state level parliamentary quiz and youth parliament competition took place here today at ATI Imagine Hall with Minister for Social Welfare & Parliamentary Affairs Kiyanilie Peseyie as the chief guest. Addressing the inaugural function, Peseyie expressed happiness to the Education Department, other co-ordinating departments and the Department of Parliamentary Affairs for making this event a regular feature for the benefit of the youth in the state.
Stating that India is parliamentary democracy and derives its strength from the constitution of the country and it depends very much for its further growth and development on the education of the youth in the process and values of democracy, he said “it is very important for the young people to learn the basic values of democracy as part of school education to acquire a proper perspective on the democratic functioning and processes through which our country is governed.”
He said in 1962, 4th All India Whips conference held in Bombay recommended that in the educational institutions the development of youth parliament as learning experience should be encouraged.
In pursuance of this objective, the department of parliamentary affairs, Government of India had drawn up a scheme of youth parliament competition in 1965. Since then youth parliament competition for the schools of union territory of Delhi are being held and now the scheme has been extended to other parts of India as well, including Nagaland.
“Democracy is not a new concept to India: It has a long tradition of tolerance of differing views and creeds, which is the hall-mark of any true democracy. There is also considerable evidence of widespread of existence of democratic institutions in ancient India. It can be said with confidence that the Nagas too practiced democracy,” the Minister said.
Peseyie mentioned that Youth Parliament Competition is a programme in which group discussion and role-playing techniques can effectively be used to promote democracy. He assured the students that the government would give support to them in their endeavor to inculcate ‘good habits’ of democracy.
Parliamentary Affairs Secretary O.T. Chingmak Chang, IAS in his welcome address said the role of youth Parliament is to teach children democracy, equip them with debating skills, stimulate them to present their own thoughts and listen to those of others. He also said that the department, through the event, aims to channelize the energies of young students towards creativity rather than destruction and to help inculcate a sense of leadership.
Students from all the eleven districts participated in the competitions. Vote of thanks was proposed by parliamentary affairs joint secretary Bendangnaro.
The winners of the Parliamentary quiz competition are 1st: Zunheboto district; 2nd: Kohima district; and 3rd: Dimapur district. Winners of Youth parliament competition are 1st: Sunjemyanger of Dimapur district; 2nd: Yanchibeni N. Kithan of Wokha district; 3rd: Pito K. Aye of Dimapur district.
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