Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 24
Rev. Dr. Chingmak Chang, who founded the Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS) alongside his wife Phutoli Chingmak, was honoured with the A Kevichusa Citizenship Award 2018 during a program hosted by the Kevichusa Foundation at DBIDL Hall, Don Bosco Campus, here today.
“We live in a small village in Tuensang and often wonder if we are doing the right thing. These kinds of awards give us the fuel to keep going,” acknowledged Dr. Chingmak today while receiving the award, dedicating it to his wife, children and Naga citizens who have consistently worked to uplift social conditions of the people.
Established in 1993, the ECS—with the motto ‘for the lost, last and the least’—has been working with the destitute in Tuensang district of Nagaland. In the past 25 years, ECS has helped check the spread of HIV/AIDS, set up a drug rehabilitation centre, a micro-finance project benefiting more than 1000 women, a land development project helping more than 10,000 families and much more.
“We have faced many accusations and many people were unhappy with us,” he said while acknowledging “God’s work in our lives.” With consistent effort, ECS was able to make breakthroughs in HIV/AIDS and drug trafficking, legally affected the rightful distribution of rice under the Public Distribution System and set up a Public Healthcare Centre that connects the community and the government.
Earlier in 2018, ECS bagged the HCL Grant in the health category that will enable their work with 100 villages in Tuensang. Dr. Chingmak has several awards and fellowships to his credit but this is the first of its kind in Naga society that has honoured his contributions.
The A. Kevichusa Citizenship Award is named after Angami Kevichusa (1903-1990), the second matriculate, first graduate and first IAS officer among the Nagas. Honorary captain of the British army, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). He was the founding chairperson of the Democratic Party of Nagaland.
