Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 22
North East Psychological Counselors Association (NEPCA) president Zavise Rume asserted that development brings peace and peace brings development. Speaking at the just concluded regional seminar cum workshop on peace and development in north east organised by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India at Guwahati, Rume said where there is no development, there will be no peace and where there is no peace there will be no development.
Rume, who is also a nodal officer, Guidance & Counseling Cell and Project Coordinator, Adolescence Education Cell, SCERT, Nagaland said peace and development go together.
He regretted that development in North-East region has been hampered by poor infra-structure facilities, paucity of trained manpower, shortage of capital and entrepreneurial skills, high cost of small scale production and marketing problems which do not have potential to create employment. In this, he said, resources should be explored and new possibilities should be created for youth to bring peace in North-East region particularly in Nagaland.
Peace exists where the world is viewed as one whole, a single community, a fellowship of human beings who have the same instincts of hunger and sex, the same aspirations of generosity and fellow feelings. The peaceful world is based on a communication of minds and hearts. Peace helps people to become human. It develops a sense of belonging to humanity and strengthens it by connecting man by man.
He opined that real peace in Northeast will happen when people experienced peace within themselves and have peace with people in their own community- Nagas peace with Nagas, Manipuris peace with Manipuris, Mizos peace with Mizos, etc. Peace is possible in Northeast when there are cultural exchanges and inter-marriages taking place among people of different communities within northeast region. Emotional integration within people of different communities in North-East region is very important to achieve sustainable peace in the region.
He also suggested some remedial measures for securing peace and development in Northeast as; the government schemes and programmes meant for youth should be connected with the youth clubs and youth organisations so that the schemes and programmes are properly implemented through youth clubs or societies, law and order of the government alone is not enough to bring about peace, skill-based job-oriented vocational training facilities should be made available to the youth so that youth are given enough options and opportunities to either opt for higher studies or vocational training for self employment and their livelihood. Vocational training programmes may be designed for students of different stages of education - students of class 8eightpassed, class ten passed, 10 plus 2, dropouts and many other professional and technical training courses for graduates and post graduates. Such skill-based job-oriented vocational, professional and technical training courses should be systematically designed in consultation with subject experts, career counselors, educational planners
He also opined that the state needs a clear-cut policy on general education and vocational education, stipend should be given to poor but brilliant students whose parents cannot afford to support for their further education, various government schemes implemented for youth should be properly monitored and evaluated in close collaboration with youth clubs or organizations, recreational facilities, sports, games and performing arts like dances, music should be provided to youth -catch them young to explore and nurture their talents in any sports or games side by side with educational qualification. Games and sports be strongly formed as part of school curriculum and a strong weightage be given. Institutions offering such as courses should be explored and arrangement should be made by the government for such talented students to get degree or diploma from such institutions.
“Today, youth are restless because they face various psychological and emotional problems. Parents and teachers are aware of their problems but they do not have a professional competence to deal with them,” he said and stressed on the need to make available counselling services to youth like individual counseling, psychological counseling, vocational and career counseling, health counseling to enable them to face the present day complexities, stresses, anxieties and world of work.
Also stating that major problems of youth are due to unemployment problem, he viewed that if each youth is secured in one or the other job for his or her livelihood, then there can be no much social problem. “We need to encourage youth to venture economically gainful entrepreneurial activities in agro and allied sector. The government needs to explore financial loan facilities from financial institutions and support the youth in venturing a livelihood promotional programmes. I do not see any reason why youth problems cannot be solved if economic independence is assured to each youth through various youth welfare programme,” he said.
Viewing that life of youth should be guided by the morals and values of the family, he said parental education on moral values is equally important. He maintained that youth as the most energetic and resourceful citizens of our society. “They have potentialities either to develop or destroy a society. Therefore, youth in any society should be taught peace education in schools, colleges and universities.” Value education, moral education, religion and cultural education are very important subject areas that can be introduced in schools, colleges and universities in North-East region to educate the values and preciousness of human life, non-violence and dignity of labour, he said.
