Kezungulo-U Krome
for YES Campaign
Arguably nature’s favorite child, the land of the Nagas basks with uncontainable natural wealth, which can strike one with new awe every time one ventures out and journeys to the far-reaching lands. This observation validates Professor Kannan’s (Vice-Chancellor, Nagaland University) lamentation why Nagas should live poor in such a rich land. Hopefully, the interactions with young people conducted during the consultations of the YES Campaign is starting to address this all-important question. The YES campaign initiates this humble step to begin the articulation of the thought process of young people all over Nagaland who are grappling with present survival, at the same time, looking ahead with new hopes and misgivings of the past too.
So far, the consultative sessions of the District Level Consultations had been conducted in 6(six) districts. So having come halfway of entire Nagaland, the interactions with young people have given immense insights. And perhaps, to live rich in our rich land, we have to start with our rich human resource. The evident richness of our land actually mirrors our richest human asset, only difference is that we have to start listening to the muffled and unheard voices of the young people.
Peren – The two-day Consultation (2nd & 3rd August) at Peren was unique in many sense. In every district the interaction starts in the question hour of the Inaugural Function when the district Deputy Commissioner and members of YES team answers queries from the audience. In Peren, Mr. N. Mesen the Deputy Commissioner, who was the only govt. official present in the function had to leave after the Chair’s Address was delivered so a number of questions were left unanswered. Ironically questions were raised on non-stationed officers posted at Peren.
In the technical sessions that followed, rich discussions were generated with enthusiasm especially from younger participants who showed willingness and determination to make livelihoods of the available rich resources. Due to their sincerity and concern for development and youth employability, action-plan for feasible projects were worked out with some participants.
The government must also take serious note and act on the repeated pleas from the people about failure on its part to provide infrastructural support, especially in terms of road connectivity and power supply. Some participant also pressed on how best young people can get involved themselves to make Peren self-reliant in electricity. They also shared their frustrations about how a hydro-project was started in Puilwa, but abandoned after stirring up a controversy by naming the project Poilwa(another village in Peren). It was felt that the water-rich rivers should be tapped to set-up mini hydro-projects, and some youth have given their commitment to carry out these projects if given technical assistance.
Another serious threat to the youths aspiring to take up innovative enterprises was the imposition of illegal taxation, which has sadly nipped in the bud potential fruit businesses with big companies across borders in the big cities. A noteworthy characteristic seen in the youths of Peren District is their attachment and reverence to ancestral heritage and their keenness to capitalize on their age-old practices and tales of charmed places to convert these potential areas into tourist destinations.
Mokokchung – The YES Campaign date at Mokokchiung on the 7th and 8th of August was expected to be of special relevance in conjunction with the ongoing Survival 2007 drive by the host body Ao Students Conference (AKM). Disappointingly the team was met by a tense Mokokchung, with the border issue threatening to spill over. Perhaps this best explains why the expected delegates to participate in the consultaions narrowed to a smaller number.
Unemployment being a common phenomenon the world over, but peculiarity in the context of Nagaland is the very notion of employment having special meaning attached to government service. This is why it was interesting to take special note of Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung Mr. Abhishek Singh elaborating the rudiments of the notion employment, definition et al. A number of progressive farming activities and plantations are successfully underway in the district, so it was also curious to note why none of the participants were actually not keen on related business activities. For some interested youths in the district, it could be a case of missed opportunity for the job offers from Mr. Rajesh Prasad running a private enterprise in Nagaland. At the same time, youths keen on off farm and on farm employment could have benefited greatly from Mrs. Thangi Mannen’s ( Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Horticulture, Government of Nagaland) keynote address, in which she also shared about how thousands of non-locals are already absorbed in private sectors and businesses, while Nagas flock for government service and crib about unemployment. She also shared with the participants avenues for livelihood opportunities through modern practices.
On the brighter side, the youths of Mokokchung showed great keenness on ICT(Information Communication Technology) related employment opportunities for the youths. This was a novel experience for the campaign team, as till this time all ICT sessions gets bogged down by ‘lack of ICT awareness’. Here they can boast of their own AIR Mokokchung Station, Mokokchung Channel, dialect papers Ao Milan and Tir Yimyim, Institute of Communication Information Technology (ICIT) and we also had youth participant pursuing youth related activities and promoting the district through their own websites. With such a rich background it was not surprising to hear some participants touting the idea of developing and producing animated folk tales.
Dimapur – From Mokokchung to Nagaland’s commercial hub – Dimapur District, the Consultations were conducted on the 10th and 11th of August. Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Mr. Abhijit Sinha shared his concern for employment seekers at the pace of increasing degree holders. And testimony to Mr. Sinha’s view that employment do not necessarily correlate with educational qualification was Mr. Hukato Naga(Managing Director, HN Company) exhorting the youths that perseverance and self-confidence is necessary for success. They also interacted with the audience as they answered queries of concern about the present job scenario and future prospects.
Dimapur being a cosmopolitan place with very little community bond (as compared with other districts), it proved to be a little challenging in facilitating and steering the discussions of divergent thinking. Here participants also deliberated on the economic activities dominated by non-Nagas while Nagas continue to seek government employment only. However this mindset is beginning to change in the present generation youths. A number of participants lamented on the poor work culture of Nagas leading to the present scenario of being dependent on non-locals, to the point that Nagas are verging on becoming a minority in places like Dimapur.
Perhaps it is a reflection of our spoon-fed culture and education, that on many occasions the host body and delegates come for the consultations expecting to learn something, or even expecting solutions from resource persons. They seem to be initially baffled by the idea that resources lie in them that solutions can only come from within. And indeed it is gratifying to see the participants with a sense of empowerment at the end of the 2-day consultations.
In all the districts young people have expressed discontent in the educational system, which they feel does little to broaden views on employment scope. Related to this was the general feeling that parents obsession with government jobs have limited the thinking of our young people. In Mokokchung I overheard a young participant saying, “ Nagas do not realize that education is a journey, not a destination.” Perhaps, it is time for the young to lead the way.
