Tuensang June 9 (MExN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has urged the students’ community to be the 'watch dogs', overseeing implementation of the Government’s schemes, as well as keep check on government officers posted in the respective areas. The Chief Minister was of the opinion that the 'vigilance' would definitely improve the quality of implementation of development schemes, and improve the performance of government servants as well.
Rio, as the Chief Guest, was speaking at the 1st General Conference of the Tuensang Mon Students’ Federation at the Parade Ground, Tuensang on June 7 under the theme “Looking beyond Horizon” .
chief Minister Rio said the theme reflects the progressive thinking and vision of the student community. He urged the students to act as watch dogs during implementation of Government’s schemes as well as on the government servants posted in their areas as this would definitely lead to improvement in the quality of implementation of development schemes, and in the performance of government servants. The Chief Minister also said that remote localities are plagued by absenteeism of government servants and proper vigilance by students and public of the area will definitely lead to improvement in the situation.
Observing that it has often been said that ‘the students are the leaders of tomorrow’, Rio accrued its relevance in the case of less-developed area like Tuensang and Mon, where the students constitute the bulk of the educated and enlightened section of the society. Rio said that the leaders of the students unions are not only the leaders of tomorrow but are also counted amongst the leaders of today’s society. He said that leaders carry with them not only rights and privileges but also onerous duties and obligations as well. Being student leaders in backward areas or less developed areas carry more works and responsibilities, he opined. “We have to become the philosophers, friends and guides to the people of our area” he reminded and therefore to become more vigilant and involve more in various actions of governance and development process.
Reminding that the high incidence of HIV and AIDS amongst the youth is a matter of grave concern, Rio said that as seen in some African countries, an entire generation can be crippled by this dreadful epidemic. He advised the students and the youth to abstain from drugs and engaged in more constructive 'thoughts and activities. “As Tuensang and Mon are lying in the drug trafficking route from South-East Asia, the students must get themselves more involved in prevention of trafficking and sale of drugs, and in protecting the society against the dreaded HIV/AIDS epidemic” he further added.
Rio also appealed to the students’ to revive the value and dignity of labour and instead of aiming for only Government jobs and other white-collared jobs, they should hone their skills as well as technical knowledge and become skilled workers, technicians and managers in private companies or in their own farms, establishments as entrepreneurs. “We should also immediately take steps to reduce our dependency on outsiders for all sorts of skilled and unskilled jobs. If we are to become a self reliant and self respecting people, we should be physically and mentally prepared to do all the jobs needed for our development, as well as for our daily existence” he said.
