EMN
Dimapur, January 19
The Japukong Kaketshir Mungdang (Japukong Students’ Conference) conducted their 69th conference during January 13-15 at Satsukba village under Mokokchung district. The event was conducted with the theme “Future vision.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Dr. Benjongliba was the chief guest of the inaugural session. In his address, the politician expressed happiness at Satsukba village’s council members ‘who came to attend the 69th edition of JKM.’ He thanked the village council members and the JKM office bearers ‘for organizing the event in a very grand manner.’ Referring to the short speech given by the chairperson, the parliamentary secretary said that the conference was made possible because of the cooperation from various student units and that it ‘shows unity among all and if unity continues nothing is impossible.’
Dr. Benjongliba also pointed out ‘how 300 Spartans fought against the mighty Persian army where the Spartans defeated the Persian.’ Likewise, he said Alexander the Great invaded India with just ‘500 armies’ and ‘many other countries,’ according to a handout from the organizers offering updates about the event.
The politician also narrated that he attended his ‘first JKM’ in 1964 at Lirmen village when he was studying in class-ii in school. He also said that his father JN Aier, who is 99 years of age, took the initiative in organizing the ‘first JKM.’ The parliamentary secretary appealed to the gathering to introspect on what they have achieved in 52 years since the ‘first JKM.’
‘The 30th Alongtaki assembly constituency is a land of potential,’ said the government leaders. He informed that the foothill road had been approved and was ‘in the process of making DPR.’ Likewise, the Tzurangkong to Mariani stretch has been approved as a national highway.
Speaking of other matters, Dr. Benjongliba said that the Agriculture department’s current objective is ‘production or productivity per unit area.’ For instance, he said, if 2000 seeds are planted in one acre of land using fertilizer, farming management, ‘2000 seeds will increase to 4000 where self-sufficiency will come.’
Also, minister for National Highway, Mechanical Engineering and Elections Nuklutoshi attended the morning program on the 14th as the chief guest. In his address, the politician said that ‘our grandparents’ university was the morung where they learnt many things like music, songs, discipline, manners, respect, dignity of labour, to be truthful and not to be dependable to others.’
However, he said in lament, the younger generation does not follow the examples set by their forefathers and may one day lose their identity. ‘Christ had given all the talents to the Ao tribe among all the Naga tribes and also the responsibility to carry all the burdens of other Naga tribes,’ the politician claimed. He urged the youths and student leaders to ‘understand what God has plan for each person.’
The minister also expressed his displeasure at the Ao Naga community that out of ‘100 percent’ only ‘60-70%’ go to church ‘while the remaining only for name sake they go to church,’ the handout stated the politician as having stated. Nuklutoshi said that in this generation the students’ organizations should ‘give importance to education, economic development.’
However, the minister regretted that ‘our present Naga society’s economic problem has become more important than the educated unemployment problem.’ He informed that as per the government’s registry and as of December 31, 2013, the number of educated unemployed persons is 63,733. He was also apprehensive that by the end of 2016 the number might reach 63,000 plus and by 2020, it might reach to 5.0 lakh.
In Nagaland, the ratio of government employees to the public is 1:16, he said. Likewise, Nuklutoshi said that the total state budget of Nagaland at 64% is for salary alone while the remaining 36% was for development. The minister strongly appealed to the students to ‘create and spread the awareness before it’s too late.’
Earlier in the morning, the third JN Aier Educational Award for 2016 was presented to 15 students of various courses, institution, boards and university. The award was sponsored by the JN Aier Socio Economic Society.
