Dimapur, January 18 (MExN): With the theme, “Future Vision,” the Japukong Kaketshir Mungdang (JKM) or Japukong Student Conference celebrated its 69th session from January 13-15 at Satsukba village. Japukong is one of the maintain ranges inhabited by the Aos in Mokokchung District.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Dr. Benjongliba Aier who was the Inaugural Guest extended his happiness to Satsukba village council members and all from near and far area who came to attend the conference.
Maintaining that a strong future can be built by learning lesson from the past, he urged the gathering to introspect oneself on what JKM have achieved over the years to to move into the future.
Dr. Aier further said that the 30 Alongtaki Assembly Constituency, which he represents is a “Land of Potential,” and informed the gathering that the foothill road has been approved and is in the process of making DPR. Tzurangkong to Mariani road has also been approved as National Highway, he said.
He also stated that the Agriculture department objective is to increase production or productivity per unit area in order to attain self-sufficiency.
He also enlightened the students that his first JKM was in 1964 at Lirmen village when he was just in Class-II and said his father JN Aier, who is 99 years now, took the initiative in organizing the first JKM and a book titled "First Light" was published in 1965 in this regard.
Minister for National Highway, Mechanical Engineering and Election, Nuklutoshi who also graced the conference on January 14 stressed on the ethos learned at Morung, the learning institution in the past.
“Our grandparent's university was Morung where they learnt many things like music, songs, discipline, manners, respect, dignity of labour, to be truthful and not to be dependable to others” he noted but opined that the younger generation does not follow the examples set by elders and may one day lost our identity.
He continued that the Aos are blessed with talents by God and has the responsibility to carry the burdens of other tribes.
“Understand what God has plan for each person” the Minister urged the youth and student leaders.
The minister also expressed his displeasure over the Ao tribe that out 100% only 60- 70% goes to church and the remaining only goes for namesake.
This generation the student body should give importance to education and economic development, he said but regretted that in the present Naga society, economic problem has become more important than the educated unemployment problem.
Concern over the growing educated unemployed in the state, he expressed his apprehension that their numbers might cross 63,000 plus by 2016 and 5.0 lakhs by 2020.
In this regard, Nuklutoshi strongly advocated that the student body should create and spread the awareness before “it’s too late.”
