Zhaleo Rio speaking during the All Nagaland Gorkha Students’
Union's golden jubilee celebration in Chümoukedima on Monday.
DIMAPUR — Zhaleo Rio, Advisor for Urban
Development and Municipal Affairs, addressing the Gorkhas' concerns regarding
the inner line permit (ILP) and Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland
(RIIN), said that every state periodically overhauls its systems and urged them
not to be alarmed.
He was speaking during the All Nagaland Gorkha Students’
Union's (ANGSU) golden jubilee celebration on Monday, held in Chümoukedima
town, on the theme "Introspecting and transforming for a better tomorrow”.
The jubilee was hosted by the Gorkha Students’ Union
Chümoukedima District, according to an update.
Rio, attending as the special guest, stated that he is a
special friend to the Gorkha community. He lauded the community for being a
well-knit group with a good reputation for their humanitarian and social
services, not only in Nagaland but also in other parts of the country and the
world.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Gorkhas for being
part of the Indian’s freedom movement and for their solidarity and support for
the Naga national movement.
Exhorting the Gorkha students, he reminded the students to
acquire quality education with commitment and resilience, as meritorious and
distinguished individuals are always in demand.
He lamented that while the literacy rate of Nagas is above
the national average, the employment rate remains low, as most people aspire
only to white-collar jobs. He encouraged the students to look beyond the state
and compete at the national and international levels for job opportunities, as
government jobs are already saturated.
The advisor expressed that the PDA government is a supporter
of the Gorkha people, noting that recognition in the form of non-Naga
Indigenous status has recently been accorded to Gorkhas who were settled in
Nagaland before 1940.
He also pointed out that in the recent ULB election, the
Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party had given a party ticket to a Gorkha
candidate from Kohima town.
He thanked them for their continued and collective support
and urged them not to let go of their rich culture and traditions in this
fast-changing world.
The guest of honour was Nobin Pradhan, president of the
Nagaland Gorkha Association, and the chairperson of the day was Jenny Lamechane
Chhetri.
The presidential speech was delivered by John Thakuri,
president of ANGSU, followed by short speeches from the presidents of various
Gorkha student unions from Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh.
