Parliamentary secretary Chotisüh Sazo (seated center) along with others during the17th general session of Chakhesang Gazetted Officers’ Forum (CGOF) held on March 12. (Morung Photo)
Kohima | March 12 : Parliamentary secretary for social welfare & women development Chotisüh Sazo today challenged the Chakhesang gazetted officers to lead the people in educational and economic progress. “I want to make a sincere impression upon you that as the cream of our society, you should as an organizations as well as individuals lead our people in educational and economic progress,” Sazo told the 17th general session of Chakhesang Gazetted Officers’ Forum (CGOF) here today.
Sazo asserted that it is the responsibility of the gazetted officers, to lead the people by example in choosing what is right from wrong and in preserving, promoting and transmitting the aspects of our culture, which are worthy of cherishing. He also requested the Forum to take responsibility in locating employment opportunities and guide the youth to get employment in both public and private sector. He said the youth forces should be channeled into positive force. Regretting that many of youth in the present society are idle and involved in self-destructive activities, he said “This is because they have not been motivated towards involving in positive activities.” Also subscribing that the youth are the most energetic period and most productive stage of life, Sazo said “Our society would lose so much if this truth is not realized.”
The parliamentary also gave suggestion to CGOF to discuss on ways and means as to how we can bring the Chakhesang community to a level where we would not be labeled as a “Backward tribe” anymore. He said the provision that comes along with the label has apparently made our youth struggle less, leading them to succeed under grace and not out of excellence. “There was a time when this categorization helped us and some of our people still need to be aided through this status. Ironically, some people parade themselves as being backward and take pride in it. However, today this label should be a matter of great shame instead and thus it should not take us long before we move out of this ‘Backward’ category,” Sazo said. Educationally, Sazo said, the Chakhesang tribe comes under “backward tribe” category among the indigenous inhabitants of the state of Nagaland because the people had late access to modern education and the number of educated people is still quite low. “Two significant causes of the slow growth of education among the people could be attributed to non-acceptance of western way of life earlier and the Indo-Naga conflict in which the Chakhesangs were deeply involved while giving less importance to modern education,” he said.
The Chakhesang community still has a long way to go in the field of education, he added.
Maintaining that the main source of economy and employment for Chakhesang people lies in agricultural sector, Sazo however said the income generated through agriculture is negligible as there is no mechanized farming. Besides, there is still hardly any big venture in cash cropping, though attempts was made in the recent years. According to him, lack of marketing infrastructures and linkages has been the major impediments in producing surplus in agricultural sector. There is no facility for cold storage, proper warehousing, grading etc. Lack of transport infrastructure is another bottleneck. Access to credit is an indispensable input for agricultural development. Investment in new technology, land development, crop production, acquisition of inputs, marketing etc. requires credit support.
He added that the paucity of institutional credit can also be viewed as one the factors responsible for low level of commercialization. “We are blessed with very rich natural resources,” he said. He, however, said that due to the fast degradation of forests and their natural resources, there is a threat of extinction of many species in our bio-diversity system. On dramatic change of climate, Sazo stressed on the need to respond to such threat appropriately and preserve our bio-diversity in order to sustain ourselves.
Referring to the advancement science & technology where many new machines and technologies have brought to our land, he stressed on the need to improvise our traditional technologies and upgrade them to our benefit “ because it must be remembered that the main focus of every nation in today’s world is the economic well-being.” The parliamentary secretary also emphasized on the need to change the attitude of the people, motivate, encourage, guide and support them financially, technical know-how and modern technologies. Further, Sazo said Chakhesang government servants constitute about 20% of our total population, out of which the Gazetted officers are the cream, saying “The society listens to you and seeks direction from you.” Sazo also asserted that from the approach of getting merely general education, we must move on to specialized education, adding studies and training in various professional skills must be encouraged and supported beyond a certain level of general education “ if we are to race with the rest of the world.”
Later, Besusayo Kezo, IPS, Additional Director General of Police, Meghalaya graced the afternoon session as guest of honour. Former minister Kewekhape Therie, Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) president Sovenyi and Petelhouviü Vese, joint director (Rtd) school education also spoke on the occasion. Presidential address was delivered by Er. Dikrolo Mero, president CGOF while M.K. Mero, commissioner & secretary IPR and Shieneta presented special numbers. Mezivolü T. Therieh and Avelü Ruho chaired the morning and afternoon session respectively. Business hour and introduction of new office bearers also marked the session.
Sazo asserted that it is the responsibility of the gazetted officers, to lead the people by example in choosing what is right from wrong and in preserving, promoting and transmitting the aspects of our culture, which are worthy of cherishing. He also requested the Forum to take responsibility in locating employment opportunities and guide the youth to get employment in both public and private sector. He said the youth forces should be channeled into positive force. Regretting that many of youth in the present society are idle and involved in self-destructive activities, he said “This is because they have not been motivated towards involving in positive activities.” Also subscribing that the youth are the most energetic period and most productive stage of life, Sazo said “Our society would lose so much if this truth is not realized.”
The parliamentary also gave suggestion to CGOF to discuss on ways and means as to how we can bring the Chakhesang community to a level where we would not be labeled as a “Backward tribe” anymore. He said the provision that comes along with the label has apparently made our youth struggle less, leading them to succeed under grace and not out of excellence. “There was a time when this categorization helped us and some of our people still need to be aided through this status. Ironically, some people parade themselves as being backward and take pride in it. However, today this label should be a matter of great shame instead and thus it should not take us long before we move out of this ‘Backward’ category,” Sazo said. Educationally, Sazo said, the Chakhesang tribe comes under “backward tribe” category among the indigenous inhabitants of the state of Nagaland because the people had late access to modern education and the number of educated people is still quite low. “Two significant causes of the slow growth of education among the people could be attributed to non-acceptance of western way of life earlier and the Indo-Naga conflict in which the Chakhesangs were deeply involved while giving less importance to modern education,” he said.
The Chakhesang community still has a long way to go in the field of education, he added.
Maintaining that the main source of economy and employment for Chakhesang people lies in agricultural sector, Sazo however said the income generated through agriculture is negligible as there is no mechanized farming. Besides, there is still hardly any big venture in cash cropping, though attempts was made in the recent years. According to him, lack of marketing infrastructures and linkages has been the major impediments in producing surplus in agricultural sector. There is no facility for cold storage, proper warehousing, grading etc. Lack of transport infrastructure is another bottleneck. Access to credit is an indispensable input for agricultural development. Investment in new technology, land development, crop production, acquisition of inputs, marketing etc. requires credit support.
He added that the paucity of institutional credit can also be viewed as one the factors responsible for low level of commercialization. “We are blessed with very rich natural resources,” he said. He, however, said that due to the fast degradation of forests and their natural resources, there is a threat of extinction of many species in our bio-diversity system. On dramatic change of climate, Sazo stressed on the need to respond to such threat appropriately and preserve our bio-diversity in order to sustain ourselves.
Referring to the advancement science & technology where many new machines and technologies have brought to our land, he stressed on the need to improvise our traditional technologies and upgrade them to our benefit “ because it must be remembered that the main focus of every nation in today’s world is the economic well-being.” The parliamentary secretary also emphasized on the need to change the attitude of the people, motivate, encourage, guide and support them financially, technical know-how and modern technologies. Further, Sazo said Chakhesang government servants constitute about 20% of our total population, out of which the Gazetted officers are the cream, saying “The society listens to you and seeks direction from you.” Sazo also asserted that from the approach of getting merely general education, we must move on to specialized education, adding studies and training in various professional skills must be encouraged and supported beyond a certain level of general education “ if we are to race with the rest of the world.”
Later, Besusayo Kezo, IPS, Additional Director General of Police, Meghalaya graced the afternoon session as guest of honour. Former minister Kewekhape Therie, Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) president Sovenyi and Petelhouviü Vese, joint director (Rtd) school education also spoke on the occasion. Presidential address was delivered by Er. Dikrolo Mero, president CGOF while M.K. Mero, commissioner & secretary IPR and Shieneta presented special numbers. Mezivolü T. Therieh and Avelü Ruho chaired the morning and afternoon session respectively. Business hour and introduction of new office bearers also marked the session.
