My dear Brothers, Sisters and Youth of Nagaland,
On the eve of 57th Statehood Day of Nagaland, I extend my warmest greetings and best wishes to all of you.
Nagaland is a tribute to the indomitable spirit of our people. It is a tribute to our leaders who toiled under exacting circumstances and secured Nagaland within the constellation of Indian Union with a unique status safeguarding the tradition, customs and culture of its people besides its land and resources. Some of them paid their ultimate sacrifice to achieve it. On this Day, we remember them and their sacrifices and pay our solemn homage to them with a sense of immense humility and utmost gratitude.
Friends, today Nagaland is at the cusp of history. A new dawn of a new Nagaland is beckoning us. For this, my sincere thanks and gratitude to the people of Nagaland, the tribal bodies, grass root organizations, Civil Societies and the Church leaders.
Now we have the sacred responsibility to build a New Nagaland. A Nagaland where every citizen is free from fear, fear of gun, fear of deprivation, fear of ignorance, fear of disease, fear of lack of opportunities and above all fear of unable to dream big.
Such a Nagaland has to be built by all the 2 million people of Nagaland. It cannot be built by government alone. It is possible only through a mass movement in which every citizen is an active partner in this holy enterprise.
The new Nagaland has to be built on a foundation of Rule of Law, Transparency and Accountability; where the Majesty of Law does not discriminate the rich and poor, strong or weak, majority or minority; where governance, be it at the Village or State level is transparent and Accountable. We need to build a culture of Transparency, Accountability and respect for law. A Nagaland where those in the authority discharge their duty in spirit of service.
Such a Nagaland will be free from corruption, where citizens will feel empowered and those in authority will be humble, steeped in the spirit of service.
Nagaland is blessed with unparalleled promising potential – both human and natural.
We have to build our precious human resource. They are like uncut diamond. They have to be cut and polished with care. They have to be physically healthy and intellectually at par with the best in the World.
I urge upon our health workers including Doctors and Paramedics and our Teachers, especially those serving in the far-flung rural areas to render their service with utmost sense of responsibility. I know that you are working in hard living conditions and I salute your dedication and service. But look at the people you are serving. They are in much worse situation. Their day-to-day life is a tedious struggle. They urgently need your service.
I urge upon our youth to take care of their health and be aspirational, even if the present prevailing situation around you is not adequately conducive. I assure you situation will change soon for the better.
Success in today's highly competitive world depends solely on proficiency in useful knowledge. Pursue a career that equips you with useful knowledge, a knowledge that will make you and your family’s lives better.
The dominant ethics of a tribal society is its egalitarian character. Unfortunately, now a days, we notice a trend among our people to look down upon those jobs which are in the nature of essential services as infra dig. This is contrary to egalitarian values. It is creating certain undesirable imbalance in the society. We need to restore among us a sense of dignity of labour.
We need to harness the enormous natural resources of our State. It is possible with innovation and use of modern Technology. Living conditions of our farmers must improve. They need be given required inputs to be more productive.
On this Auspicious Day, which also marks the beginning of a month long celebrations all through the State, starting with Hornbill until Christmas and New Year, I urge upon my brothers, sisters and youth to awake and arise to the beautiful new possibilities for a new Nagaland. With God's blessings, the journey of transforming Nagaland has begun! Together we will make it beautiful!
I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year.
