Dimapur, Sep. 5 (EMN): Founder YouthNet, Hekani Jakhalu, said GBs have immense responsibilities as guardians of customary laws and with the special provisions of article 371 ‘A’, they play a pivotal role in the progress of their respective villages in all aspects.
Jakhalu who is also a Nari Shakti Puruskar awardee, was addressing the annual session of the East Dimapur GB Association (EDGBA) held on September 3 at Mandeville Garden, Purana Bazar, with the theme ‘For a brighter tomorrow.’
According to an update, she also stressed on the need for education and youth empowerment and in this regard, Hekani gave commitment to work with 500 unemployed youths in the targeted areas. To achieve a self-sustainable economy in the region and financial growth, she stressed on the importance of road connectivity, especially between villages so as to create sustainable ecosystem for growth and relieve the hardships of the villagers.
She added that for implementation of the Prime Minister’s Act East policy, East Dimapur and plain areas in Dhansiripar belt would play a critical role since these are the only available plain areas for private industrial enterprise to expand to become potential entry points to South East Asia
The YouthNet founder urged the villagers to avoid selling of land for short term gains since this could otherwise hamper development in East Dimapur and surrounding rural areas, as land availability is critical for infrastructure development, it stated.
She also said unity is the key for any society to prosper socially and economically and that East Dimapur is like a mini Nagaland as there is equal representation of different tribes in East Dimapur.
As a token of gratitude to the genuine efforts being made by GBs towards the needy, she contributed INR 10 lakh for the welfare fund under EDGBA and another INR 5 lakh with additional INR 1 lakh each from Atoqa Tea factory and Global Network Group, as seed money to EDGBA corpus fund to be utilised during critical emergencies and unforeseen natural calamities, it stated.