Mushrooming civic groups, selfishness worries legislator

Sungratsu (Mokokchung), Jan. 11: The ‘mushrooming’ of various groups and organisations in Nagaland for ‘personal leverage’ and the individualistic attitudes of the people today are a concern, a legislator has said. The Naga civic organisations cannot afford to allow politics to seep into their roles if the aspirations of the people are to be fulfilled, he observed.

The parliamentary secretary for Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Service, S Chuba Longkumer on Wednesday felt that the Naga society today had become ‘individualistic’–everyone now thinks and do things only for their selves.

The parliamentary secretary was addressing the second day of the 41st triennial general conference of the Asetkong Kaketshir Telongjem Mungdang (AKTM) at Sungratsu village, under Mokokchung district, as the chief guest of the event.

Because of the people’s ‘individualistic mentality,’ Longkumer said, there are fewer individuals who are dedicated to working for the betterment of the Naga society.

The legislator also lamented the ‘explosion of many groups and societies’ in Nagaland: such mushrooming of groups for personal leverage is causing turmoil to the society today, he said.

In this regard, S Chuba Longkumer opined that students bodies should be intellectual groups to bring change to the ‘torn society’ of the Naga people. He also urged the civil organisations not to let politics seep into their organisations ‘so that the mandates of people can be fulfilled.’

He was also of viewed that if ‘such approaches’ are taken, peace and unity can be achieved for the people.

Also, the chief host of the event, Parliamentary Secretary Geology & Mining Dr Imtiwapang Aier, addressed the event. He said that the Naga society was going through a period of transition where disunity and parochial attitudes such as clans have become a chronic disease for the community. He, therefore, called upon the students to inculcate the ‘mentality of oneness’ for the Naga people and bring unity to the Naga family.

Dr Imtiwapang Aier also advocated the Clean Election Campaign initiated by Langpangkong Kaketshir Mungdang and encouraged the AKTM to emulate the good work and initiate the same campaign in the range too.

He appealed the students to work for the success of the five-year plantation project to make Asetkong green, which was launched under his initiation last year and in association with AKTM.