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KOHIMA — Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Power, KG Kenye on Saturday urged government officers to handhold the state leaders and work collectively towards solving issues confronting the people of the state today.
Addressing the 2024 general conference of the Chakhesang Gazetted Officers' Association (CGOA) at the Capital Convention Centre in Kohima, Kenye reminded the officers that there is so much to do beyond the four walls of the offices.
“The state today is faced with a challenge which the state leadership alone cannot shoulder and need officers to handhold them,” he said referring to the unresolved Naga political issue.
“Despite several decades, the Naga political issue refuses to die and running away from it won't help”, he said and warned of a "tumultuous" period ahead, similar to that of the 1950s and 1960s in Nagaland’s history if "concrete" decision is not taken today.
Kenye reminded the officer that ‘we cannot pass this baggage to posterity’.
“The future generations will not forgive us if we don't do our part today,” he said and added that time has come for the officers and the leaders to be more effective and make telling contributions to the society.
According to the senior politician, years of discussions on the Naga political issue have yet to produce the desired outcome even as the rival Naga political groups refuse to come to a meeting point.
He said that it is time for the Naga people to demand the Naga political groups to put their respective documents (agreements with New Delhi) in public domain.
The documents have to be "thoroughly studied", word-by-word, and need to be critically analysed before deciding on the roadmap for the future of the people, he said.
After scrutinising all the documents, the people can arrive at an “acceptable document” which could then be forwarded to the government of India, he suggested.
“However, if the documents are not made public, the enlightened society today will not accept it and will not simply stay silent when decisions for their future are being made,” he warned.
In this regard, he said that the people of the state will end up facing a situation that was prevalent more than 60 years ago if decisive steps are not taken today.
The minister lamented the ‘fragility of unity among the people’ and urged all to come together to take collective decision today in order to resolve the Naga issues before it is too late.
Vekhosa Kotso, the president of CGOA, underscored that the association’s responsibility is not only towards in-service officers but much beyond and must aim for emancipation from the old mindset while still retaining the qualities, ethics, values and rich socio-cultural traditions.
He asserted that the CGOA can contribute a lot to the community in particular and Naga society in general if the members put their heads together, discuss issues by bringing together a diverse pool of opinions and experiences drawn from various professional backgrounds.
“The general mindset is getting government jobs but that is not going to happen if one do not see opportunities in and around and capitalise on it. While we remain jobless, outsiders come, work and earn handsomely in our places. We need to create awareness among the unemployed youths to focus on self-entrepreneurship, business undertakings, etc.,” he said.
The president called upon the members to further diversify their activities to provide the right guidance to youngsters and help them excel in things they are passionate about, giving their best with positive thought and mindset.
Commissioner and Secretary for Social Welfare Department, Martha Ritse, urged the officers to give their best and strive to maintain the highest value in their work. She also reminded them that their work is an important resource to help develop the community.
Visielie Kezo, Advisor of Finance Department, encouraged his colleagues to develop the desire to transform the lives of the people and bring about change in the society. He encouraged them to introspect and assess their own performances, adding that it is through achieving small things by each officer that a lasting impact in the society will be engineered.
He further observed that there is a need for effective governance in the state. “The unemployment level in the state is about to hit the roof and the problem will only get bigger,” he noted and emphasised the importance of creating opportunities for the common man.
The president of CPO, Vezuhu Keyho observed that as gazetted officers, the CGOA members are responsible not only to the government but also to the people and called for better coordination in the community.
He further highlighted the activities undertaken by the organisation and sought assistance from the officers in order to help them complete the community projects.