Our Reporter
Dimapur, Jan. 28 (EMN): The Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Pangnyu Phom addressed the second general conference of the Eastern Nagaland College Students’ Union (ENCSU) on January 28 in the public ground of Longleng town.
He reminded students that the world is living in a technology-savvy society where every action and move can be recorded.
‘We are living in a technology-fast society where our living styles and actions are being recorded by the outsiders. We can't remain static by gossiping, but rather equip ourselves with knowledge so that we can be pragmatic in this generation that requires intellectual people,’ he explained to the ENCSU.
While urging the youths to live in unity, Phom said to have ‘witnessed many youths in various conferences talking about reforming the society in a positive manner.’
“Let us question ourselves as to how far or to what extent we have achieved in bringing positive change in the society,” reminded the minister. He reminded that reformation is needed in every sphere.
“But until we have reformers, our vision for reformation will not happen,” said Phom.
Speaking on the topic of Nagas being reliant only on government jobs, Phom urged the ENCSU gathering to try to be successful in a different way.
“How long we will depend only on government job? Our state government is overcrowded by the employees with less result of proper governance but our resources are being drained in salaries,” Phom said, adding that the government already has ‘excess employment.’
“We need to streamline this excess employment and need to invest half of our budget in developmental sectors,” asserted Phom.
Further, Phom said to believe that ‘the richest man is not a government employee or an inventor’ but an entrepreneur. “Entrepreneurs are the richest and society is being controlled by them. I want you to be like them,” the minister said.
Phom spoke also about keeping one’s custom and culture intact ‘even though we live in a technological society.’ “No matter how fast the technology develops, as long as we are Nagas we can't escape from our customs and traditions,” Phom said.
‘It is your responsibility to ensure that our rich culture, tradition and custom do not decline because of technology,’ said Phom and maintained that Naga customs and traditions are unique that outsiders envy the Naga people.
“It will be a blunder for us if we shy away in displaying our rich culture to others,” he stated.
“Our Naga society has also become a society of criticism. We criticize every move of the government,” said Phom but also reminded that the government is elected by the people. Nonetheless, the government is answerable and accountable to the people, the gathering was told.
“But let us remember that we should avoid misusing our liberty to criticise every move of the government, and rather be responsible enough to remind oneself that each one of us plays a vital role in the functioning of the society,” Phom said.