Former diplomat Jitendra Nath Misra warns students of digital distractions, urges reading habit

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• Former diplomat Jitendra Nath Misra speaking during the inaugural function of IIMUN Kohima Conference at G Rio School.

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• KOHIMA — Former diplomat Jitendra Nath Misra on Thursday warned students about the dangers of digital distractions and urged them to cultivate a reading habit grounded in literature, philosophy, and history.
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• Addressing the inaugural function of India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) Kohima Conference, held at G Rio School, Misra described social media as a compulsive distraction “in these troubled times.”
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• Advising students against reading only from screens or engaging excessively on social platforms, he said that knowledge doesn’t come from cell phones or computers but from reading, imagining, and perceiving.
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• He stressed the importance of imagination alongside curiosity and called on parents to find a balanced approach in managing their children’s screen time. “If you are denied something, you become desperate to do it. So you need a balance—not too much, not too little,” he said.
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• Misra also encouraged teachers to foster environments where students can challenge them, saying: “The more they challenge you, the better you become as a teacher.”
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• Secularism and national identity
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• Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs KG Kenye, who also addressed the gathering, spoke about the significance of hosting an international movement in the state and the enduring challenge of secularism across the globe. He noted that while India is a land of diversity, the ongoing struggle in geo-religious contexts remains one of humanity’s most difficult issues.
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• Kenye reminded that religious wars have taken many forms throughout history. Even in a free country like India, where all religions are respected, it remains a serious challenge, he said.

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• Henok Buchem, Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, highlighted the importance of critical thinking in today’s information-saturated world. “We are constantly bombarded with information, opinions, and claims—but not everything we read is accurate or trustworthy,” he cautioned.
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• Buchem underlined the importance of evaluating evidence, analysing information objectively, and reaching informed conclusions.
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• Youth health concerns
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• Dr. Nukshisangla Lemtur, Joint Director of Nagaland State AIDS Control Society, presented a sobering picture of health challenges facing adolescents and youth in Nagaland. She revealed that between 15-19% of HIV cases in Nagaland over the past three years were found in the 15-24 age group, with over 86% of cases attributed to heterosexual transmission.
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• Nationally, she said, 31% of people living with HIV fall within the 15-29 age bracket. Citing National Family Health Survey-5 data (2020–21), she said 6.8% of women aged 15-19 in India had already been pregnant or had given birth—a factor contributing to maternal health risks like anaemia, premature birth, and social stigma.
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• Lemtur also highlighted the growing burden of mental health disorders, teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, and communicable and non-communicable diseases among youth.
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• She shared that depression and anxiety are among the leading causes of illness and disability in adolescents, and suicide remains one of the top causes of death in the 15-19 age group.
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• Citing national data, the doctor said that 1 in 20 people suffer from depression, while 0.9% face a high suicide risk. Additionally, around 60 million Indians suffer from mental illness.
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• Further, she said that rising obesity is another concern, with over 5% of Indian adolescents classified as overweight or obese, and some states reporting rates as high as 10-15%.
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• Lemtur advocated for greater access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare services for adolescents, particularly mental health support. She pointed to “CITY BARN,” a youth-friendly health initiative launched in Kohima near Bayavu Junction, which provides a holistic range of services for young people.
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• The model, piloted in Nagaland, has been recognised and appreciated by NACO (National AIDS Control Organisation).
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• She urged the youth to be proactive about their health and to seek help for issues such as learning problems, abuse, early sexual experimentation, and mental health challenges.
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• Students and faculty from Music Academy Kohima and G Rio School presented musical performances.