Chairperson of Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW), Sano Vamuzo has perhaps rightly pointed out on the disturbing trend of rising family problems in Nagaland. She made this remark during a recent programme at Dimapur. What Sano mentions is credible information and should not be brushed aside. As Chairperson of the NSCW she is obviously privy to the happenings taking place in Naga society and as she disclosed that the Women Commission office receives numerous grievances relating to adultery, infidelity etc. Expressing deep regret that such unchristian lifestyle was taking place in a Christian state, she also mentioned about how there are many broken families in Nagaland today. Sano also lamented what she described as the spiritually blind parents whose children were roaming aimlessly in the streets creating problems for the society wherever they go. The issue being raised by the NSCW Chairperson—the importance of family—is vital for the well being of our society and therefore requires urgent attention. In fact moulding a person to become a positive influence for society will largely depend on his or her family life. Given the importance of family life, it is a matter of concern that we are seeing more and more of broken families and this has a negative bearing on young people—fear, insecurity and the problem of indiscipline. In order to reform our society we need to revisit the importance of value education. If we want to produce law abiding citizens of the future and who have respect for both rights as well as responsibilities, then the building block for such useful citizens should be the home-family.
At a time when families are falling apart, we need to reaffirm and renew the aims of a Christian home and where we can raise children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”. The family presents the best opportunity to discipline our future citizens. However for this to happen, it is the parents who will have to show the way—i.e. to transmit the right values to their children. Recent incidents of rape, murder, extortion, cheating, land encroachment and other corrupt practices and illegality in Naga society is indicative of our moral degeneration and perhaps the problem lies in poor parenting and indiscipline. What kind of a future we are building for ourselves will depend on our family and the upbringing of our children. It is evident that for us to build up a society that all of us can be proud of, we will need to start from the institution of the family. We speak about strengthening the institutions of the government, village councils, tribal hohos, churches, national groups etc. But rarely do we give proper thought about the functioning or condition of our family. All of us in different vocation and calling, we have our root in the family. How we have been brought up is a determining factor on how we are able to live our lives. If our society is to become a better place to live, we need to restore the family to its role as the conscience keeper for a better tomorrow.
