Kohima, September 28: It was one of those rare debate competitions that had two opposite groups agreeing all the way. A Wednesday debate competition in Kohima over the question of the Naga people’s imaginary ‘self-reliance’ and ‘self-sufficiency’ had only one answer: the Naga people are lethargic. They are not doing enough to address their situation.
Sazolie College in Kohima conducted their 11th inter-collegiate debate competition, this time on the topic “Nagas are self-reliant”, was conducted in the college on Wednesday.
The event was sponsored by the department of Higher Education.The welcome speech was given by Dr Kangzangding Thou, Principal of Sazolie College.
Altogether 16 colleges from various districts participated in the debate competition. The affirmative (“motion”) talked about the high literacy rates of Nagaland was an indication of their people being self-reliant. The argument was that various resource groups such as Youth Net and the Entrepreneurs’ Associates were ‘doing a lot’ to make the Naga, especially the young, ‘more self-reliant and independent’ –no country in the world is fully self-reliant or sufficient. The negative (“against the motion” argued back that the Naga depend ‘too much on others.’ The lack of industries, further, hinders them from being self-reliant or self-sufficient. Because of the lack of medical facilities in the state, likewise, ‘we are referred to other states.’
Interestingly, both the groups admitted that the Naga people were not ‘working hard enough to improve our situation’ and that they ‘do not make the best use of what is available’ to them.
The negative bench won the debate with a total of 1, 328 points while the affirmative landed a total of 1, 199 points. In the first position was Thejoto Nienu from Capital College; the second position went to Luntsuba Yimchunger from Japfu Christian College; the third position went to Chonbemo Y Ezung from Sazolie College.
The consolation prize winners were Elika Mero from Pfutsero Government College of Pfutsero, Hutulu Chuzho from Kohima College of Kohima, Duchifi Pichhurii fromDon Bosco College of Kohima, Bideno A Humtsoe from Mount Tiyi Government College of Wokha and Jacob Thuse from Mt. Olive College of Kohima.
The moderator for the debate was Neichute Doulu, CEO and coordinator of the Entrepreneurs’ Associates. He stated at the end of the debate that as ‘no country is self-reliant,’ dignity of labour and hard work was necessary for the people to become self-reliant. He encouraged the students to work ‘really hard.’
“You are what you think you are,” he said and advised them to be ‘cautious of what they think.’ He also promised an amount of Rs 2000/- to all the participants of the Debate Competition as an encouragement from Entrepreneurs’ Associates.
The judges also referred to the applicant-job ratio accordingly with the number of applications received for the NPSC –one job placement sought by 1000. Judges, Rev. Shan Kikon, senior pastor of Faith Harvest Church; Lezo Putsure, director YouthNet; and Temsu Longkumer, senior accounts officer of the Industries & Commerce department encouraged the students ‘to work hard to achieve self-reliance and success, since government jobs have reached a saturation point and students have to really work hard to be self-reliant/sufficient.’
The First, Second and Third were awarded Rs. 10,000, Rs. 7500 and Rs. 5000, in that order. The consolation prize winners were awarded Rs 1000 each, besides citation to each of the participants.
