DIMAPUR — Nagaland is not only the “Land of Festivals” but also “Land of organisations”, which is becoming very expensive, stated Y Kikheto Sema, Commissioner and Secretary, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, while addressing the 40th General Conference of the Dimapur Sumi Students’ Union (DSSU) at IMC Hall, Dimapur, on Saturday.
Stressing the expenses and wealth drained by various unions, organisations and hohos, he cited sumi student bodies in 378 villages, 41 area student unions, 17 ranges student unions, 67 city-based unions and apex student bodies, taking the total to about 504 student bodies.
Dwelling into expenses, he said that if each of these units spends an average of INR 2 lakh, the total amount comes to about INR 10 crore annually, while the expenditure of other organisations, such as tribal hohos, churches, unions, etc. add more burdens to the citizens.
While asking the students to follow the principal of “work and eat” , he also urged the youths to focus not only on government job but to be self-reliant by availing different schemes offered by the government of India and the state government.
He advised the youths and entrepreneurs to take Bank loans rather than Societies loans which normally charges higher interest rates.
Work hard, be humble and patient, have compassion and forgive each other, as well as respect the elders and the people in authority, honour parents and fear God, he told the students.
Our endeavour should be “We” for “Wellness” and “I” for “Illness” for posterity, he said while urging the youth to refrain from clanism, tribalism and groupism, and focus on peace and unity of the state and the country. He also asked them to fight all evils in the society particularly substance abuse.
Stating that there are cases where people sell lands for their medical treatments in hospitals, as they are unaware of free healthcare scheme, he urged the youths to create awareness among the villagers on government schmes to that they can avoid selling property to pay medical bills.
Speaking on the theme “Light Bearer”, Andrew Ahoto Sema, Director of Livingstone Foundation International College and School, advised the youths to be humble, as humbleness does not mean weak but ‘down to earth’.
He opined that Nagas have the capability of understanding and learning fast but questioned if ‘we are learning and absorbing the good things’. He stressed the need to change, lamenting the Nagas not taking the right path many a times but do things with selfish motive.
Even in terms of education, he opined that Nagas always run after ranks and grades, forgetting about humanity. Today’s generation are blessed with technology and it has made life easy but it will become harmful if we rely on the technology alone, he added.
Maintaining that Nagas can be easily bribed and many would do shameful things for money, he warned the Nagas will collapse because of their selfish nature. Don’t be selfish and don’t think of easy money, he advised the youth.
Hokuto Zhimomi, President of Dimapur District GB Association, who attended the extravaganza session as the guest of honour, encouraged the students to maintain a balance between academic and social life.
He encouraged the students to avail all available avenues provided for enhancing their career as per their interest and venture into private and business sectors.