Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio being welcomed by ENPO office bearers at the ENPO silver jubilee programme in Tobu on February 24. (Photo Courtesy: CMO, Nagaland)
ENPO celebrates silver jubilee
Mon, February 24 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister (CM) Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday acknowledged the ‘crucial and central’ role of people in the eastern regions of the State and said that they add to the rich diversity and the proud culture and heritage of the Naga people.
“Nagaland and the Naga society will never be complete without the eastern Nagas,” he stated.
The CM was speaking at the silver jubilee celebration programme of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) in Tobu on February 24. While congratulating the ENPO on achieving a significant landmark, Rio paid tribute to all the leaders and the people for their contribution and sacrifices to bring the organization thus far.
The CM also acknowledged the contribution and sacrifices made by the eastern Nagas in the journey of the Naga people. He expressed confidence that with more progress and development, their contributions towards the nation building process will be much greater in the years and decades ahead.
‘Backward area’, not people
The CM further said that due to shortfall in infrastructure and deficit in human development parameters, the areas of eastern Nagaland are termed ‘backward’. “But the people and the citizens of these areas are not in any way backward,” he asserted. In fact, you are all equal members of the larger Naga family, he added.
From being unadministered as recently as the 1940s to providing leadership to the Nagas in many areas and even making recognizable achievements at the national and international levels, the CM said that people of eastern Nagaland have come a long way.
While highlighting other achievements, Rio said, “At the same time, it is also a fact that, there is still a long way to go on all fronts of development and human progress.”
It should be our collective aim to overcome the lost years in a unified manner in order to meet the aspirations of the people, the CM said and stressed the need for making efforts towards realization of basic parameters of human development and progress.
He noted that the Agri and allied sector is one avenue where the people have the strength and potential. It is vital that we become a self-sufficient society especially when it comes to agriculture so that it helps us to boost our economy, he said.
Rio further urged the leaders and capable personalities of the eastern regions to take proactive decisions to invest resources in their own districts before looking towards Kohima, Dimapur and beyond.
While acknowledging that the government has a great role to play, the CM also said that it must be supported through people’s initiatives and private enterprise. He encouraged the officers, government employees and professionals to inculcate a willingness to work and serve in their own ‘difficult areas’.
Stating that people of the eastern regions play a crucial and central role in the Naga family, Rio highlighted ENPO’s motto- ‘Liberty in Unity’, and said that “the message of a unified Naga family must be sounded from here to the rest of the greater Naga community.”
Rise above differences
Stating that the unresolved Indo-Naga political imbroglio remains as the most important issue, Rio said that it is high time to break free from the shackles of conflict and violence so that Naga society can join the rest of the global community in seeking the common goals of human progress.
He appreciated the ENPO for its participation and contribution during the Consultative Meet on the Naga Political Issue on October 15, 2020 at the State Banquet Hall in Kohima. “It is indeed very encouraging to see a spirit of unity being achieved amongst the civil society organizations and tribal hohos,” the CM said.
“Elected representatives have also risen above party affiliations to sound one common voice. The message is clear. Nagas want unity and reconciliation and all stakeholders of the political movement must rise above differences and work for one common Naga cause, “ he asserted.
‘The real journey has only begun’
Listing the measures taken by the government to address the needs of the people in the eastern areas, the CM mentioned that the foundation for a new Medical College in Mon would be laid in the next few days. He sought the cooperation of all sections to make the long cherished dream a reality in the earliest time possible. Congratulating all those who made it possible, Rio reminded that the real journey has ‘only just begun’.
Meritocracy for combating governance challenges
The CM called for introspection on the initiatives aimed at empowering the people and whether they have served their purpose.
“For example, we must ensure that the policy of reservations must benefit the real targeted sections,” he said.
Reservations must benefit the grassroots and elevate their lives in a meritorious and just manner so that the creamy layers are not beneficiaries of policies that are meant to uplift the weaker sections, he added.
Rio called for a unified effort to evolve mechanisms that would benefit our people. The onus is on the new generation of youth and the leaders of the day to rise to the occasion and deliver the goods without bias, he stated.
Meritocracy and use of modern technology are the only ways to combat governance challenges, the CM said and urged the youth to support good governance initiatives, strengthen measures that are aimed at rewarding merit, and play the role of responsible citizens that keep policy makers and implementers with checks and balances.
