Minister and former MP CM Chang no more

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 12 (EMN): The minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Justice & Law, government of Nagaland, and former Member of Parliament, CM Chang, passed away at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) on October 12. He was 77.

Sources from NHAK informed Eastern Mirror stating that the minister passed away on Monday afternoon.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has expressed ‘shock and deep pain’ over the demise of the minister and former MP, describing him as a close friend, brother and advisor.

“He served the Government of Nagaland as an IAS officer, a member of the Lok Sabha in Parliament and a Cabinet Minister. He was a close friend of mine for several years and we shared a close working relationship for decades. He was like a brother, a trusted advisor and a loyal associate. I am unable to fully express the loss, especially at this juncture,” CM’s condolence message read.

Born on April 1, 1943 at Noksen village in Tuensang district, Chang did his early education from Government Middle School, Noksen in 1957 before doing matriculation from Government High School, Mokokchung in 1959 and BA from St. Edmund's College (NEHU), Shillong, in 1969.

Public service

He served as the president of Chang Students' Conference from 1961 to 1963; president of Tuensang and Mon Gazetted Officers' Association from 1991 to 1995; and president of Nagaland Civil Service Association from 1994 to 1996.

The retired IAS officer joined government service as Investigator, Class-II Gazetted, in the department of Art and Culture from 1971 to 1979 and went on to serve in various capacities. He was appointed as EAC in DC office, Kohima in 1979; SDO (Civil) at Tuli in 1983; RO Dimapur from 1983 to 87 (erstwhile ADC Office, Dimapur); SDO (Civil) Shamator in 1988; deputy secretary (Education) 1989; ADC Dinapur in 1990; deputy secretary (PHED) in 1992; deputy secretary (Home) in 1993; joint chief electoral officer in 1994; director Youth Resources in 1995; DC Wokha 1997; and secretary of Youth Resources and Sports department in 199.; He was inducted into IAS in 1999.

Political career

Chang served as the vice-president of the NPF party from 2003 to 2011 and contested in the General Elections held in 2003 and 2008 from 51-Noksen Assembly Constituency on NPF party ticket but lost on both the occasions. However, he got elected to Lok Sabha in 2009 and remained as an MP till 2013.

He got elected to the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) from 51-Noksen Assembly Constituency on NPF party ticket in 2013 and was appointed as the minister for School Education. He however resigned from the membership of the NLA in the same month and retained the seat in the bye-election held later in the year from the same party and constituency.