Nagaland
Change not possible without people’s participation, says Nagaland Deputy CM Y Patton
Our Reporter
Dimapur, April 19 (EMN): Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton on Tuesday lamented that ‘our land is becoming infested with organisations and societies which at times create havoc and disturbances, vitiating the peaceful atmosphere which ultimately becomes an obstacle for growth and development’.
He was speaking on the second day of the 4th general conference of Central Nagaland Students’ Association (CNSA) on the theme ‘Beyond Boundaries’ at Agri Expo, 4th mile, Chümoukedima.
Patton, who is also the Road and Bridges and Home Minister, said that CNSA comprising Ao Students’ Conference (AKM), Lotha Students’ Union (LSU), and All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK), and all the constituent units need to come together and have threadbare discussions on how to take forward the various issues pertaining to the association.
Though labelled as advanced tribes, there are a few pockets that require special attention and support in terms of development and progress, Patton said stating that Mangkolemba areas in Mokokchung district, Satoi range and Agunato area in Zunheboto district, and Bhandari sub-division in Wokha district were all ‘backward areas’ in need of good connectivity, healthcare facilities, and proper education.
The deputy chief minister added that the state is facing numerous problems and issues starting from the Framework Agreement between Government of India and various Naga groups, Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) and Inner Line Permit (ILP) issues, Urban Local Bodies election, formation of Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) and problems in implementation apart from many local issues.
The government of Nagaland led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is committed to bringing the much-needed changes in the state; however it is not possible without people’s participation, said Patton while urging the CNSA and other civil societies to play an unbiased and impartial role for the benefit and betterment of the society.
At the event, Patton also mentioned that Khelhoshe Polytechnic Atoizu (KPA) need to be a full-fledged degree engineering college, and there is a need to establish a government law college in Nagaland.
He said that the Global Open University was supposed to be at Wokha town but was later shifted to Chümoukedima, and urged the CNSA to speak on all these issues.
The deputy minister also touched upon the foothill road construction, and added that the road is not only for the three districts as it starts from Tizit covering Mokokchung area, Wokha, Niuland district, and Dimapur up to Khelma in Peren district.
He stated that the districts of Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Wokha share long porous boundaries with neighbouring Assam state, which has resulted in problems of infiltration, illegal trade, and imposition of frequent bandh by the neighbouring state.
To solve these menace requires a cohesive approach and joint action from all parties involved, he added.
On Naga political issue
Patton also informed the gathering about the recent meetings of Nagaland legislators led by Neiphiu Rio, accompanied by T R Zeliang and him, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and urged them to resolve the Naga political issue.
He said that no elected legislator would be able to step down within six months or one year after the elections, if the Naga political solution is to be arrived at post election next year. So, he appealed to the Central leadership to expedite the Naga political issue before election, ‘if they want to have a peaceful atmosphere in Nagaland’.
Patton also informed that interlocutor AK Mishra arrived in Nagaland on April 18 to meet all the Naga political groups, civil society and student bodies over a period of one week.
He, therefore, requested the civil society and student bodies to ‘tell the truth, enough is enough and it has been 25 years since the signing of ceasefire agreement’.
Also speaking during the programme, special guest MLA Imkong L Imchen, said that the three districts have been neglected beyond reasonable limits and equal distribution of development has not been given.
Imchen also stated that the ‘foothill road’ topic has become popular not because of a positive outcome but from the negativity surrounding it.
The MLA added that Naga people have been talking about Indo-Naga political issue for the last 70 years. According to him, the boundary was not ‘properly demarcated’ and while one wants to unify all Naga inhabited areas and there is nothing wrong about it, ‘the question remains if it is possible and viable’.
At the event president of Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) Chingmak Chang, also informed that the federation is going ahead with the scheduled indefinite agitation from April 21 over the state government’s failure to address their demands for inclusion of exempted departments and posts in the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) Regulation 2020.
He urged the cabinet misters to look into the matter as it is not only for eastern Nagas but for the ‘greater interest of the entire Nagas’.
CNSA adopts 4 resolutions
CNSA also adopted four resolutions during the 4th general conference held on April 18 and 19.
It affirmed to cohesively work towards uplifting the Naga society in matters confronting the interest of the student community, and reiterated its stand to demand for timely completion of the ongoing motorable foothill road without compromising on the quality of workmanship.
The CNSA also resolved to appeal the state government to maintain ‘status quo’ on the issue pertaining to the demand of Nagaland In-service Doctors Association (NIDA) for superannuation.
It also resolved to constitute a committee to explore the ‘pros and cons’ of affiliating other indigenous tribal students bodies of Nagaland to the office of CNSA.
Meanwhile, R Sunep Pongen was elected as president, Lipemo M Tsopoe as vice president and Holoto Yeptho as cultural secretary of CNSA for the tenure 2022-25.