RTI, RTE, capacity building, rural schemes and policies, health etc. on agenda
S Henlly Phom
LONGLENG, MARCH 6
THE first of its kind ‘Wheel Tour 2014’ or ‘Advocacy Tour’ initiated by Eastern Naga Students Federation (ENSF) was flagged off at Longleng district headquarters today.
Bearing in mind the setbacks of four Eastern district tribes comprising Phom, Konyak, Yimchunger, Chang, Khiamnuigan and Kiphire under Longleng, Mon, Tuensang and Kiphire and considering the need of the hour to march forward, the campaign has been organized in an endeavour to educate the young and old alike on socio-economic development.At the flagging-off ceremony, Phom Students Conference president M Chaupong Leinak extended his appreciation towards the ENSF for coming up with this ground-breaking and noble initiative to educate young and old of the four eastern districts of Nagaland.
Lamenting on the situation of younger generations wherein they find themselves skulking around not realising their abilities, he attributed it to poor guidance as the main reason.
Highlighting on the purpose of the tour, ENSF general secretary Honang Jessuhu said the campaign is not just to enlighten the participants on various issues but to learn and understand from each other’s problem so as to arrive at a solution for better understanding and growth. Stating that the tour has been initiated with great expectation, he appealed the gathering for vigorous participation to make this tour fruitful not just for ENSF but for the entire community.
The tour with the concept to move ahead concentrates on the Right to Information (RTI), Right to Education (RTE), capacity building, rural schemes and policies, education awareness, advocacy communitization, health, livelihood and development.
During the first phase of the tour in Longleng district, the students were guided on career guidance to track their path sensibly.
During the advocacy course with the village councils on the schemes implemented by the government of India, it was found that many are ignorant of the schemes available and lack the knowledge of provisions and grants provided by the centrally-sponsored schemes. Nevertheless, with the advocacy of the ENSF officials, there seemed to be better understanding and awareness on these schemes.
The tour touched an important issue of basic testing tools of the students to understand them in a better and precise way. There was also an assessment of adult education.
Throughout this campaign, the ENSF will conduct a survey within the 20 constituencies of the Eastern Nagaland districts to check on dropouts of school students and study on the per capita income of the six Eastern Naga tribes to draw a conclusion on their socio-economic conditions.
The campaign today saw enthusiastic participation from students to elders.
The ‘Wheel Tour’ is a month-long campaign which will culminate on March 28 covering the 20 Assembly constituencies under four districts of Longleng, Mon, Tuensang and Kiphire. The tour is supported by Eastern Naga Legislative Union (ENLU), sponsored by Medecins Sans Frontier Doctors without Borders and partnered by Eastern Mirror.
The inaugural programme was chaired by ENSF president Shasha Mennahu.
