Dimapur, Jan. 16 (EMN): To bring about healing in the Naga society, which is fragmented by divisions within tribe, sub-tribe, clan, family, the Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Y Kikheto Sema urged the young people to focus and work together as Nagas.
Speaking at the valedictory function of the 47th annual conference of Sümi Aphuyemi Kiphimi Küqhakulu (SAKK) in Tüküliqa village on January 14, Kikheto urged upon young people to start planning a road map for a new Nagaland, ‘where there is no division or isms, where people do what is right and just, where there is humility and respect, where clean elections happen, and where everyone works to eat.’
Kikheto, who was also the special guest of the programme, stressed on the need to check the balance sheet of the society. While stating that the public often blamed the top leaders at social, political or religious fields, on the contrary he blamed the followers who are often the instigators of divisions in the society, a DIPR report stated.
Also pointing out that church associations, social organisations (hohos, women, and youth), individual churches etc. observed annual, biennial and triennial conferences involving huge expenditure, he questioned the output/ outcome for spending so much. Stating that those expenditures have huge impact on parents, leaders, bureaucrats, politicians, business persons etc. and affects the economy, Kikheto opined that it is time for the Naga society and the Sümi society in particular to limit all such conferences.
While explaining that most of the government schemes are now routed through direct benefit schemes and banking, Kikheto informed that the state government is also seeking to approve and pass the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (Sarfaesi Act, 2002) to enable young educated unemployed to avail schemes and loans etc and become entrepreneurs for economic development and sustenance. He, therefore, urged the young educated unemployed to not only strive to get government jobs alone, but to identify their own strengths and the schemes or opportunities available and suitable for them and work towards availing assistance from the government and become successful entrepreneurs.
Kikheto also stressed that the young people could be agents to introduce modern farming methods in the rural areas by identifying areas within their village cluster with water availability for settled farming on Naga Integrated Settled Farming (NISF) model. He further informed that the state government would soon come up with a weather station advisory to help the farmers be updated on weather conditions and enable them to prepare to face any changes in weather.