Nagaland Governor, Dr. Ashwani Kumar and his lady wife accompanied by Minister for Forest & Border Affairs, Y Patton, NSMDC chairman and MLA, N Thomas Lotha, and others arriving at the Kyong Students’ Union (KSU) conference at Lakhuti village, Tuesday.
In what appeared to be a passing statement but is likely to spark off lively debates among various sections of Naga society and political parties, Nagaland Governor, Dr. Ashwani Kumar, today suggested that the 16 Point Agreement, Simon Commission and Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution are “matters of past history.”
“What we read in the newspapers and Government statements about 16 Point Agreement, Simon Commission, 371 Article of Constitution. These are matters of past history,” the Governor said in his address as chief guest of the inaugural session of the 49th general conference of Kyong (Lotha) Students’ Union (KSU) held at Lakhuti Village ground, in Wokha district.
The 16-Point Agreement arrived between the Government of India and Naga People’s Council in 1960 led to creation of Nagaland as the 16th state of Indian Union while Article 371 (A), which is still in force, gives special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland.
“What the present generation wants is good jobs. They are prepared to work hard to earn their livelihood which they expect will provide them reasonable standard of living and facilities like roads, vehicles, mobiles, internet, TV and goodies of life which others are enjoying,” the Governor added.
Stating that he chose to travel by road to understand the problems faced by the common people, especially the road conditions, Kumar said that sitting in Kohima, reading official reports, attending high level meetings, gathering information from newspapers and TV channels conveys an absolutely different picture of people’s demands and desires.
“Frankly speaking, there appears to be a big gap between what the people want and what is discussed in official meetings at Kohima and Delhi,” he said. According to Kumar, during his interactions with the common people, what he learnt is that the people desperately need good water supply and electricity, good roads and hospitals and rapid agriculture and economic development. The Governor also said common people are most worried about education and employment for their children.
“And what people don’t like is violence, blood-shed, threats and extortions. They hate corruption and illegal taxation,” Kumar added.
The Governor appealed to the KSU and all other students’ unions in Nagaland to assume leadership role in bringing about “qualitative transformation” in the functioning of educational institutions.
“For ensuring rapid agro-economic development and creation of jobs and livelihood opportunities, we need to immediately change the quality of teaching and learning and re-orient the functioning of our schools, colleges and universities,” Kumar said.
Minister for Forest and Border Affairs, Yanthungo Patton, the guest of honour, in his address said the NPF-led DAN Government has initiated various programmes and schemes related to the youths. Patton said these programmes and policies are aimed at empowering the people at the grassroots level, especially emphasising more on uplift of the educated unemployed youths.
The forest minister also said students as educated group should be fully aware of global warming and the need to preserve and promote “our forest and wildlife.”
Patton said the recent concerted effort made by individuals, organizations and the Forest department in protecting and preserving the Amur Falcon “is laudable because it has become a pride for the Lothas is particular and the Nagas in general in the eyes of the international community.”
Chairman, Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation (NSMDC), N Thomas Lotha, MLA, the chief host of the conference in his “special greetings” underscored the need for youths and students of the North East Region to comprehend in depth the road map on education rolled out by the Ministry for Human Resource Development under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). Thomas said NE youths stand to gain the most from RUSA.
Meanwhile, the chief host also reminded the Governor that Lakhuti is a historical village as the then British DC of Naga Hills, Captain Butler, started his last sojourn from Lakhuti village in 1875 before he was ambushed at Pangti and succumbed to his injuries. Thomas, also a native of Lakhuti, proposed to the Governor to construct a stadium at the village ground in memory of Captain Butler.
