Kohima, November 26 (MExN): Parliamentary Secretary for PWD (Housing), Er. Levi Rengma today stated “we” should encourage the 33% women reservation policy for better governance and management of our society. “They (women) should be given a chance to participate in policy making. Women of our society are found to be more sincere and dedicated in their duties,” he asserted while speaking as chief guest at the 17th general body meeting of Rengma Officers’ Forum at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima.
He opined that the Naga society is going through a period of confusion and “in this changing scenario, if we have to move forward, we must erase apprehension of one another.”
Er. Levi further maintained that Rengmas are being deprived of their rights, politically and in economic development. Pointing out the memorandum submitted to the Government recently by the community for carving out a separate district for the Rengmas, he stated there are no criteria under the Constitution of India for creation of a new district. Districts are created for the administrative convenience of the public and through a political decision, he said. “I have come across many of our leaders sympathizing with the cause of the Rengmas. So, now it’s upto our Rengmas whether we achieve our dreams and aspiration or fail. If we want to achieve our district, every one of us should learn to respect each other and collectively march towards our goal. If we don’t do that, our dreams will remain only a dream,” the chief guest stated.
Meanwhile, he told the officers gathered that they are the role models of younger generations. “As an intellectual you are in a position to expose the lies of the authorities, to analyze actions according to their causes and motives and often hidden intentions. So it is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth and expose lies so that the common public will not be misguided,” he urged. “Let us ask ourselves as an intellectual ‘what extend have I contributed to the good of my people’.”
Further, he noted that God has blessed Nagaland with abundant natural resources for “us” to harness it for “our” benefit. As per the Geology & Mining Department information, he said, Nagaland has 600 million tons of oil and natural gas reserve and 150 million tons of inferred reserve, 1000 million tons of lime stone and marbles, 13.3 million tons of inferred reserve of magnetite and 5.3 million tons of proved reserve and 5 million tons of magnetite with Nickel, Cobalt, Chromium and rich deposits of other associated metal like zinc, molybdenum such as Gold and platinum. “However, we are unable to harness these God five natural resources due to our community mentality of selfishness. Our state can become one of the richest and advanced states in the country, if and only If we can harness the gift that God has given us. To do that, we should start changing our mindset and look beyond our village and state. Once we can harness the natural sources, unemployment problems in our state will come to an end. In order to achieve all these, the pre-requisite is peace in our land,” he added.
