Dimapur, Jan. 12 (EMN): The Yongnyah Village Students’ Union (YVSU) conducted a conference from January 6 to the 8th at Yongnyah Baptist Church, in Longleng district.
Member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly BS Nganlang was the guest of honour for the programme, updates stated.
The legislator exhorted the gathering during the event. Nganlang challenged the students of the village to strive for quality education, rather than depending on government jobs or ‘other means of appointment.’
The resource person for the first session was the principal of Longleng government higher secondary school, Henow, who spoke on the topic “education is the key to development.” She told the gathering about the various government programmes and schemes such as the Right to Education and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) which are implemented by the central government for the welfare and all-round development of the students.
‘It is necessary for the implementing agencies and combined efforts of the village council members and student union bodies to ensure that every child from the age of 6 to 14 benefits from right education and mid-day meals,’ the resource person stated at the programme.
Speaking during the second session of the conference on the topic ‘Technology, a boon to the present generation or a curse,’ Henow urged the younger generation to learn the proper value of the internet and other technological applications.
Further, while declaring Yongnyah village a ‘clean and green village,’ she urged the community to plant more trees, keep their surrounding clean, and to plant more flowers to make Yongnyah a beautiful village.
Further, the superintendent of Longleng police, Yanithung Ezung exhorted the gathering by challenging the students not to rely on backdoor policies or reservations as the Phom community are qualified enough to be in the general categories.
The police officer also attended the women’s folk dance competition at Yongjong Pangshe where different students’ unions participated.
Speaking on the topic, “determination changes everything” an extra additional commissioner of Peren district, Wangan, urged students of the village to set goals and be determined towards achieving them. He asserted that setting a goal in life should be the main priority of every student.
Among other events, a spelling competition was conducted as part of the event, which was followed by extempore speech. Also, Chingmei Shukshuhu and his band Bu-ou-li gave a folk performance for the gathering.
The executive secretary of the Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) N Tialemba, who was the resource person for the first session on January 8, spoke on the topic ‘walk in the path of righteousness.’ Tialemba reminded the gathering that through Christianity the people were introduced to modern education and that ‘they are two inseparable phases in our life.’
“Whoever puts almighty God ahead will always succeed, achieve good education as it is a sacred act and the present generation needs comprehensive, inclusive education,” Tialemba stated.
During the second session, the PBCA executive secretary declared Yongnyah “plastic free zone village.” A group of folk performers from Yongnyah also treated the gathering to a special cultural presentation.
A deputy superintendent of police at Nagaland Lokayukta B Phongtau Phom attended a log drum competition, and appreciated the organisers for its initiatives to preserve indigenous instruments, cultures, and customs.
Yongnyah Cultural Club also gave a performance depicting the traditional way of community fishing, updates stated.
The special guest of the closing ceremony was deputy director of Horticulture C Bhupom. In his address, the official spoke about the role the students of Yongnyah can play for all-round development of the village and society as a whole.
Associate Pastor of the Longleng Town Baptist Church H Mongngoi led in lighting candles and prayers for the closing ceremony of the event, while Yongnyah students of Dimapur also gave a special presentation.
Convener of YVSU conference Dr. Bongau Phom and president of the YVSU T Ongmei Phom thanked the people who took part in the event and to the villagers in general for making the group’s first conference a success.
