Rio urges students to start ‘Save Kohima’ movement

Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 23 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday encouraged students to know their strength, assess them, and give their best in whatever they do. He was addressing the 28th biennial general conference of the Angami Students’ Union at Piphema.

According to the chief minister, having a bachelor’s degree was not enough and urged the students to specialise in one or other discipline. He appealed the student leaders to constitute a career guidance body to help the students.

Rio rued the low number of Nagas to clear competitive exams at national level. He advised the students to work hard and appear for competitive exams.

On Kohima being rated as the ‘second most unliveable’ city in the country by the Ministry of Urban and Housing Affairs, the chief minister urged the people to work for the betterment of the city. In order to get rid of the unpleasant tag, he said that ‘Save Kohima’—a movement involving all sections of society, including students—needs to be introduced.

Considering the water scarcity in the state capital, the government has taken steps to tackle the issue by sourcing Dzükou Valley water to the capital, he informed. As for the economic affairs, the government is ready to work even on credit, he said.

“It’s very easy to say change for the better. But to implement the change is difficult,” Rio said. He was of the view that people’s attitude and mindset needs to change. Adopt positive thinking and discard negativity, he said.

On the ongoing four-lane project between Dimapur and Kohima, Rio said that landownership/compensation was one of major challenges for the government. He said that the land compensation survey for the road took more time than expected.

Road development in Kohima faces various problems like ‘PHE pipe, water cable, and other obstacles that block the progress of work’, he said.

The president of ASU, Visakho Rino said that the union strives ‘to protect the rights of the student fraternity transcending tribal boundaries.’ Saying that the main objective of the conference was to “challenge the dynamics”, he urged the students to ‘come out of the decadence.’

Kesosul Christopher Ltu, the president of Naga Students’ Federation, said that there were 62, 000 registered educated unemployed in 2017. The number has now increased to more than 70,000, he informed. ‘If we don’t venture out, instead of being assets to the society, we will become liabilities’ Christopher said.

On Indo-Naga issue, he said that it was not about politics but the future of the Nagas. ‘If we don’t have a say in this, than something very wrong is happening within us,’ he said.

Leaders of Angami Public Organisation graced the function as session guests. Southern Angami Students’ Organisation and Vimeneno Chücha presented a cultural dance and a song respectively.

As part of the conference, sports and literary competitions were held on the same day.