NCF Chennai, NSUC advise not to send children to cities without proper verification of offered jobs Chennai, April 3 (MExN): Two Naga youths working in private companies have died in Chennai in less than a month. On April 3, Z Akiu Yimchunger, an employee at a private company in Sriperumbudur, died after a brief illness, while a Naga woman who was also working in a private company passed away following a short sickness on March 13, according to a press release from Naga Christian Fellowship (NCF) Chennai and Naga Students’ Union Chennai (NSUC). Informing that there are around 250 youths from Nagaland working in “unorganized sectors” as security guards, labourers, restaurant helpers, bakery workers, beauty parlours and spa workers, salespersons etc. in and around Chennai city, the two Naga organizations expressed concern that many of the youths are living in poor conditions and also “involved in various unhealthy lifestyle which even cost their lives.” “Every year at least two or three such people die and some dead bodies cannot be sent home because of poor economic conditions of the families and the burden falls to the Naga community in Chennai for all the necessary arrangements in the city which is also so expensive,” the release stated. Moreover, it added, many of these youths are not members of the NCF Chennai and NSUC “because they don’t try to let the Naga community know about their whereabouts which is a great concern except in times of needs. To locate them in the city with millions of population is a difficult task for the community.” Further, the NCF Chennai and NSUC advised the parents and guardians in Nagaland not to send their “uneducated” children to the cities without proper verification of their offered jobs and also without the knowledge of the Naga community in the cities to avoid untoward misfortunes and exploitations. The two organizations in this regard requested the respective tribal hohos, churches irrespective of denominations and other civil societies in Nagaland to help in finding the youths to return to their homes “before encountering the unfortunate situations far away from Nagaland.” It was informed that 5 people have been sent back to Nagaland in 2017 so far. To speed up the process, the families and organizations concerned have been asked to contact Pastor Wapangtoshi, NCF Chennai at 09840127998 and Chingmak Chang, NSUC Vice President at 07401780461. In the absence of Nagaland House in Chennai, the Naga community in Chennai also encouraged the Nagaland government to set up a Nagaland House in the city at the earliest, which the release stated, is a long pending demand of the Nagas.
