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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 12 (EMN): Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Law and Justice Chongshen Mongkosungkum, better known as CM Chang, passed away at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) on Monday. He was 77.
He was reportedly admitted at NHAK a week ago seeking treatment for diabetes and blood pressure. However, government sources informed that the minister also contracted Covid-19 while undergoing treatment for other ailments.
Nagaland Health department official also confirmed that the minister’s death was reflected in the daily Covid-19 bulletin issued on Monday.
A state send-off service for the departed leader was also organised at his official residence in Kohima. Sources informed that family members, relatives and colleagues attended the funeral at the state capital before sending the mortal remains to his native village, Noksen in Tuensang on Monday night.
The minister is survived by his wife Alemla Chang, four sons and five daughters.
Meanwhile, the government of Nagaland has announced two days of state mourning, from October 13 to the 14th.
During this period, the National flag will be flown at half mast throughout the state while there will be no official entertainment. The departed leader will be accorded a state funeral.
Born on April 1, 1943 at Noksen village in Tuensang district, Chang did his early education from Government Middle School, Noksen in 1957 before doing matriculation from Government High School, Mokokchung in 1959 and BA from St. Edmund’s College, Shillong, in 1969.
Chang joined government service as Investigator in the department of Art and Culture from 1971 to 1979 and went on to serve in various capacities until retirement. He was inducted into IAS in 1999.
Chang served as the vice-president of the NPF party from 2003 to 2011 and contested in the general elections held in 2003 and 2008 from 51-Noksen assembly constituency on NPF party ticket but lost on both the occasions. However, he got elected to Lok Sabha in 2009 and remained an MP till 2013.
He was elected to the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) from 51-Noksen assembly constituency on NPF party ticket in 2013 and was appointed the minister for School Education. He however resigned from the membership of the NLA in the same month and retained the seat in the bye-election held later in the year from the same party and constituency.
Chang was re-elected to the 14th NLA from 51-Noksen assembly constituency on NDPP ticket in 2018 and was appointed a cabinet minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Justice & Law.