Dimapur, September 17 (MExN): A youth organization in Kohima today urged the Nagaland government to ban the export of all timber and forest products during the ‘year of entrepreneurs’ to “raise value addition unit to the up-coming youth in such business.’ Angami Youth Organization said in a letter to the chief minister today that exploitation of forest products is severely affecting natural resources.
“…The climatic changes, deforestation and urbanization have taken a serious concern for the rural dwellers. The random export of forest products from our land to other states had badly affected our natural resources,” stated the AYO in the letter. “Sensing all these problems as an emergency, the AYO would like to put forth our earnest request to your government to ban all sawn timber, forest products to be exported outside the state during the year of entrepreneur in order to raise value addition unit to the upcoming youth in such business.”
The AYO said the ban on export will give an opportunity to Naga entrepreneurs to export finished products in lieu of raw materials. According to the organization, “new hope” for those who were struggling for livelihood, was brought about by the government-declared “year of entrepreneurs” for 2010. “On the other hand it has been observed that our young local talents are unable to compete in the greater arena on the pretext of not given ample attention on their passion for such a profession,” AYO said.
The organization assured the government all support in “this venture” and also “shall be vigilant on all front so as to let the policy work successfully.”
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