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Dimapur, Aug. 14 (EMN): Nagaland Governor RN Ravi has called upon the people of the state to break the colonial miasma and march with the rest of the country in the journey of shared prosperity while “preserving our unique cultural identity”.
In his Independence Day message, Ravi stated that Naga leaders played significant roles in the constitutional evolution of India and acknowledged the people’s contribution in the freedom struggle.
“On the auspicious occasion of the 75th Anniversary of our Independence a grateful nation pays homage to all the martyrs and heroes of Nagaland who gave their utmost for the cause of India’s freedom,” read the message.
He went on to say that “Nagaland has been and shall ever remain an integral part of India”.
Maintaining that colonisation had devastated the economy and socio-cultural lives of the Nagas, he said the British “killed the trade and commerce of the Naga Hills with the rest of the world”.
“In pursuance of their divide and rule policy, the colonisers planted seeds of mutual suspicion and hatred in the plural Naga society and also between the people of the Hills and the plains,” he stated.
He said that India’s independence was an outcome of blood, sweat and sacrifices of millions of Indians, including Nagas who resisted the British rule and paid their ultimate sacrifice. He also recalled numerous battles fought by various tribes in the state against the British in defence of the motherland.
“The Country is celebrating 125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji. On this occasion I pay special tribute to all those Naga warriors and their families who were part of Netaji’s campaign for freedom of India,” read the message.
The governor paid heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, nurses, members of health services, and frontline workers who risked their lives to save precious human lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also said that civil societies including the church and other faith-based organisations had rendered commendable services.
“We pay our heartfelt homage to those Covid warriors who made their ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. My deepest sympathies to the families who lost their dear ones due to this pandemic,” read the message.
Maintaining that the second wave had hit harder, he said the country had made a remarkable improvement in health services and delivery systems; significantly increasing hospital beds, medical oxygen, ventilators and essential medicines. He added that “trial of vaccines for children under 18 is in progress” amid fear that children might be more vulnerable in the third wave.
Ravi stated that the state government had made significant capacity building in the health sector to combat Covid pandemic, managing to reach out to people in far-flung areas with medical and humanitarian assistance through help from Indian diaspora abroad and organisations.
“We have installed and commissioned several oxygen plants, added significant number of hospital beds and ensured no scarcity of essential medicines. Our district task forces are doing commendable job. Our doctors, nurses and other hospital staff both in Government and Private Sectors have risen up to the challenges and their services are worthy of appreciation,” he stated.
He urged the people to shed vaccine hesitancy and come forward for vaccination, as that’s the only safeguard against severity of the disease.
Citing rain deficit that has seriously impacted agriculture, he said people need to explore options in agriculture and allied economic activities.
“In the unfolding epochal story of India’s resurgence, Nagaland cannot be left behind. Our state is rich in natural and human resources. Being at the gateway of the South-East Asia offers us unique geo-economic opportunities. In order to make a glorious Nagaland we must prioritise developing our most precious human resource which unfortunately has suffered a relative decline in recent decades,” read the message.
The governor expressed the need to improve health and education sectors, enhance enrolment in schools, reduce dropout rate, and to build modern connectivity infrastructures.
“I am happy to inform you that some 1800 km of National Highways in the state are under construction and the state capital Kohima will be connected by railway in the next two years. We have to build a healthy ecosystem of investment and entrepreneurship. We must eliminate illicit gangs and guns and institutionalised corruption from the state,” he said.
Citing the good performance of sportspersons from the Northeast in the Tokyo Olympics, Ravi said Naga youths have enormous potential in sports and would make the state and the country proud if given the right environment.
Describing the youths as the future of the state and the country, he said they have to march into the future by keeping the pace with the change around them.
“Maintaining strong emotional and cultural bonds with your custom, tradition and identity and overcoming the narcissism of minor differences, you have to race ahead keeping pace with time, technology and contemporary realities,” he advised.
“Friends, a bright and beautiful dawn is beckoning at the horizon. We must welcome it with our unwavering commitment to the rule of law, hard work, truth, transparency and justice,” he added.