Our Correspondent
Ungma (Mokokchung), Jan. 18 (EMN): The 37th Ongpangkong Students’ Conference (Ongkongpang Kaketshir Mungdang (OKM) entered its second-day at Ungma village some 10 km away from Mokokchung town on Thur.
Retired government officer Dr Temsuwati addressed the event. He said that students should ‘understand their innate talents’ and ‘pursue studies according to the talents.’ He released the conference’s souvenir during the event as well.
According to the retired officer, ‘unless the students understand their innate talents, they cannot call themselves students.’ In his words, the students’ main duty and responsibility is to “study, study, and study.”
The speaker talked about how the state sector has already been ‘saturated’ with fewer opportunities for employment of ‘educated unemployed’ youths. Reminding them about the ‘limited availability’ of government jobs in the state of Nagaland, the retired officer said that the youths’ dependence on government jobs for an economically secure life ‘is over.’ ‘Survival opportunities’ in this new age ‘should be revolutionized,’ he said.
In said regard, the speaker pointed them to entrepreneurship. Dr. Temsuwati cautioned that if the concept of entrepreneurship is not explored, the Naga society will not move forward but would rather create more ‘social problems.’
Saying that the Ao community’s forefathers were pioneers, not the present generation, the retired bureaucrat explained that their forefathers achieved their vision. But ‘this generation did not achieve anything but only talks about past glory,’ the told the students.
In this connection, Dr Temsuwati called upon the students community to start working ‘from the bottom in every field’ and bring changes that are required to merit calling themselves part of a pioneering tribe again.
“Conceptualize new ideas and have strong determination to realize the vision...prepare to accept the challenges to reach the exceeding possibilities,” Dr Temsuwati challenged the students at the OKM event.
Aotula T Imchem, IPS, also exhorted the gathering. He encouraged the students to be consistent in life and to muster the courage to boldly speak up concerning what is right and wrong. “If you do not harness the courage than the world will be a problematic one,” she said. She advised them against pointing fingers at others. There are good things in everyone that can do better things in bringing positive changes to the society, she said.
Rev. Ponen Longchar, pastor of MTBA, said prayers for the students. During the programme, the OKM Achievers Award was given to thirty-one achievers who secured top positions in various academic fields, including the high school and higher secondary examinations, and the Union Public Service Commission and Nagaland Public School Commission.
NSF calls for ‘solution’ and peace
The general secretary of the Naga Students Federation (NSF) Imtiyapang Imsong has called upon the students’ community to work toward a permanent solution to the Naga political issue and to bring peace ‘if the Nagas desire a better future.’
The student leader was addressing the morning session of the 37th Ongpangkong Kaketshir Mungdang’s second-day programme at Ungma. He asserted that the Naga political dialogue had reached a ‘crucial juncture that people are now thirsty for a solution.’
In this connection, the NSF leader informed that the organisation will be organizing a rally on Jan. 23 for a ‘solution before the election.’ He called upon the students of Ongkongpang not to take the back seat but ‘be in the front seat’ toward a permanent solution and peace for the society.
Further, Imsong told the students that the NSF’s mandate was meant not only for students’ welfare but for ‘the cause of the Naga people.’ ‘If the students are tomorrow’s future than the students should speak out today for tomorrows future,’ the student leader said.
