Kikheto urges church to be agent for change

KOHIMA, AUGUST 24: Secretary of Land Resource Department, Kikheto Yeptho, said though Naga populace claimed to be almost 100% Christian, ‘we have failed to live upto the expectations of Christian principles and values.’ He, therefore, asserted that now is the time for our society including the church to retrospect and introspect and own up to our own failures and take corrective measures. He said this while speaking on the topic ‘Socio-economic status of Nagaland today and the role of the church in major development areas’ during the consultation on Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) Vision 2030, today at NBCC Platinum Hall, Kohima. The programme was jointly organised by NBCC, Nagaland Development Outreach (NDO) and sponsored by Development of Human Potential (DHP), Imphal. While pointing out the church as one of the best institutions and the best platform for teaching both spiritual and life aspects, Sema remarked that the church needs to review its preaching and teaching and to further stressed on the teachings of the basic values and quality of life. Stating that the church should make use of its powerful platform for socio-economic transformation, Sema asserted that the church’s main focus should not be only on spiritual teaching but also on effective role-play for social and economic transformation in the society. On the Naga political issue with so many divisions, Sema said churches should play a vital role by bridging the gap and unite the odds among the different sections of Naga political groups. At the same time, he also pointed out that the church should tell its people not to stress more on speculations and propaganda but should encourage all sections of the Naga society irrespective of region, tribe, clan and factions to come together and find a conclusive solution. Stressing on the need to produce students possessing values with quality education, Sema maintained that government cannot be expected to solve all the problems. Hence, he pointed out that community should possess a spirit a belongings and ownership and be willing to solve practical issues and problems faced by the school. In this regard, he said the church should create awareness about the responsibilities that each individual and community should take upon to create a conducive environment for providing quality education. ‘The churches may be encouraged to make effort to bring such issues and topics in the teaching and preaching,’ he added. Noting lack of proper infrastructure, medical facilities and huge disparity of manpower distribution especially in the rural areas due to resource constraint, Sema opined that churches may be encouraged to take up projects and provide medical facilities on a ‘mission mode’ to the poor and needy sections of the society. The church, he said, may appeal its members who are doctors, nurses including retired doctors and medical professionals to serve the people. On power and electricity, Sema pointed out that the state requires about 115 MW per hour, out of which, it has installed capacity of only about 26 MW, while the remaining 89 MW is being purchased from others sources. The transmission and distribution losses for the state, he said, stands at an average of 60% and above. In this regard, the churches were asked to focus on telling the people not to engage in illegal tampering of metre boxes, hooking and illegal connections but to pay due charges to the government in time. Emphasizing on the importance of agriculture in economic development, Kikheho said the church should create awareness on the economic benefits of value added crops by organising workshops, seminar within their associations and invite the concerned department to impart awareness on the feasibility and viability of the crops within their area so as to improve the economy and uplift the living standards of the people. The church, he maintained, should also play a vital role in preserving the flora and fauna of the State and encourage tree plantation through afforestation programmes under various departments. Also noting the immense potential of rearing livestock, Sema suggested the church to give emphasis on local livestock in the rural areas. He suggested that people should be encouraged to take up production/ rearing of livestock since there is a huge demand not only in the State but also within the village itself. Churches are also urged to impress upon the people to grow locally available agro and allied crops. Also while appreciating the Clean Election Campaign of the NBCC, Kikheto asserted that the campaign should not only be held during elections but begin right after the end of the election till the next election. Sema pointed out that voters should be equally blamed for the excessive expenditure during elections since the demand for money and materials increases in exchange of their votes. ‘The people who negotiate for votes, the giver and the receivers are all Christians and members of the church,’ said Sema. Stating that election is the main culprit of not only negative impact on socio-economic but also creating division among the people, he suggested that clean election campaign syllabus should be included in the Sunday schools and also requested the government to include the same in the syllabus of elementary education. Sema strongly asserted that the church cannot remain silent spectator in this serious issue but rather renew its commitment for clean elections and go on a war footing with a vigorous commitment. He stressed on the need for the churches to bring the topic of clean election to the church platform upon all the stakeholders. ‘If the church fails, blame should not be shifted upon other stakeholders alone. ‘Once the election process is changed, we can expect lot of improvement in socio-economic development,’ he maintained. While being optimistic of an early solution of the prolonged Naga political issue benefitting all sections of the people, Kikheto said for a new and prosperous Nagaland, the role and responsibilities of the church leaders is most inevitable.