KG Kenye urges NCS officers to take active role in shaping Nagaland’s future

KOHIMA — Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs KG Kenye on Wednesday urged civil service officers to use their field experience to play a more active role in shaping the future and not shy away from social responsibilities.

He was addressing the 47th General Conference of the Nagaland Civil Service Association (NCSA) held at the Administrative Training Institute (ATI), Kohima.

Kenye emphasised that the civil servants of the state and the elected representatives must work as a team, adding that both complement and supplement each other as the subject is the same while the interest is the people, the land, the state, and whatever composes it.

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Kenye highlighted that the history of the NCS predates the creation of the state itself. He said the predecessors of today’s Nagaland Civil Service (NCS) officers were the ones who laid the foundations, set the alignments, and pushed the people forward. At that time, there were only a handful of officers working without guidance or support.

The minister commended the NCS for its decades of faithful and courageous service, saying their commitment has carried the state to where it is today. He called the NCS the most valued machinery of the government, noting that if this machinery ever breaks down, governance itself would collapse, as no one else can take their place.

He acknowledged the people’s desire for an early political solution but pointed out the incoherence among the leading groups. Before blaming others, he said, stakeholders must first engage in honest internal dialogue.

Recalling how the predecessors of the NCS once guided leaders and helped bring peace that eventually led to statehood, he expressed hope that God would grant similar wisdom and unity to the present generation.

Kenye urged NCS officers not to confine themselves to their offices but to be more vocal, proactive, and engaged with grassroots communities. True power, he stressed, lies with the people, especially under Article 371 (A), which gives Nagaland a unique identity and governance structure. He noted that NCS officers face far greater challenges than their counterparts in other states, often dealing with communities who wield more influence than the bureaucracy.

He said the ongoing political issue has dominated public attention, creating uncertainty about the future. In such times, he urged officers to help guide community leaders—the real custodians of society—because people trust civil servants more than politicians. Officers, he said, must influence mindsets, encourage practicality, and help citizens differentiate between needs, dreams, and realities.

Calling them the best minds and the cream of society, Kenye encouraged deeper interaction with elected members, the formulation of new policy frameworks, and continued engagement with grassroots leaders to build a shared vision for the future.

Kenye said many NCS and senior government officers are becoming disillusioned because public attention is dominated by political issues, both on social and print media, overshadowing the real work officers are doing on the ground.

He cautioned that while pursuing higher political aspirations, the state must not lose the stability it already holds. With no promising developments visible in the near future, he said Nagas are at a critical crossroads. The choices made today will determine whether the people can sustain themselves for another century or face decline within the next 50 years.

He stressed that solutions will not come from outside to resolve the issues confronting the people but must be resolved from within—the people themselves must decide their future. He added that the best brains—NCS officers—must speak up.

Meanwhile, Kesonyu Yhome, commissioner and secretary to the chief minister, Works and Housing, and finance commissioner, Government of Nagaland, in his speech said the NCS officers are the steel frame of the state bureaucracy, as they play a crucial leadership role in every sector they serve.

He noted that over the past six decades, the NCS has been instrumental in shaping the state, and its role will only grow as India works toward becoming a developed nation by 2047. He stressed that if Nagaland is to progress along with the rest of the country, NCS officers are vital, as every department and division has work that contributes to development.

Yhome added that the notion of officers having “no work” must be dispelled, especially when the state’s economic growth will be a major focus in the years ahead, while emphasising the need to economic development of the state beyond the salaried economy.

In her presidential address, NCSA President S Tainiu stressed the need for an innovative, inclusive, and forward-thinking approach to governance, highlighting the evolving aspirations of youth, population growth, and shifting administrative demands.

She said civil servants must remain the vital link between the government and the public by promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability and by embracing technology and adaptable policies.

Tainiu noted that while systemic challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and gaps in service delivery persist, internal issues like the need for stronger accountability, improved work ethic, and unity within the civil service also require attention. She emphasised that these challenges present opportunities to strengthen systems, innovate, and improve the quality of life for citizens.

A speech was also delivered by Dr. Sekhato A Sema, MLA. On the occasion the association also felicitated the retired NCS officers and IAS inductees.