Introduction
At the outset, we must consider whether Mokokchung can achieve a vision given the situation. For that, perhaps, we can look into the very recent history of Mokokchung. We have seen its people rise up against the NSCN K in 2003 and the illegal Bangladesh immigrants in 2007 successfully. It all started with a vision for a safer Mokokchung and it worked. Hence, Mokokchung Vision 2040 is a possibility.
The concept of Mokokchung Vision 2040 is just an opening to a spate of a realistic future for Mokokchung. Educated by past inaccuracies, present challenges and future prospects, Mokokchung must rise to the confrontations of building a robust society today and tomorrow. There arises the need for a virtuous maturity of peace, stability, wealth creation and educational headway.The advent of Christianity in Nagaland in 1872 and the subsequent opening of the first school in the Naga Hills at Molungyimsen in 1878 laid the backdrop on which the rest of Nagaland would have to be founded. Mokokchung has been the centre of it all. Hence, it is only natural to have a vision 2040 and beyond. In the words of former Nagaland Govenor Dr Ashwani Kumar: “Mokokchung has always led Nagaland.” This is a call for Mokokchung to set goals – a series of achievable short-term and long-term goals over a continuous period of time.
Aspirations
Based on the present situation and needs analysis of the Mokokchung scenario, there emerges an iceberg of key areas in need of visions and emphasis to build a satisfactory Mokokchung. Some of the areas that seem to need aspirations are briefly thought over accordingly.
Economic Aspirations
kokchung is the transit point for places like Tuensang, Wokha, Zunheboto and Longleng. This strategic location proves beneficial for many places within Nagaland economically.
Social Aspirations
Providing adequate healthcare, water supply and sanitation still needs improvement. For example, the free governmental medical check-up for school students is still limited to government schools only. Extending this to private schools is also an aspiration for all. Nepotism still rings loudly in the government employment mechanism. Providing fair opportunities to deserving and capable people must be ensured. Besides, identifying the underprivileged and giving them access to various opportunities can go a long way in building a more secure society. HIV/AIDS people are still stigmatised, despite the various moves to dispel this. Marginalisation of women and youth must be eradicated in toto.
Political Aspirations
There is a need to promote transparency and accountability to establish good governance. Effective management of funds is another felt aspiration. The aspiration for free and fair elections, as originally influenced by the thoughts of Late Rev. Longri Ao and adopted by the NBCC later, needs to go on until the goal is made. The concerned and educated youths can oust the weathered politicians and make way for new focused politicians to take the lead. Doing away with tribalism and nepotism in the political affairs is another aspiration for Mokokchung 2040. The various tribal, social, traditional, cultural and academic organisations or groups can promote the spirit of patriotism to cement the dignity of the Naga people and the Naga nation from the inside out.
Digital Aspirations
Everything is digitalised today. It has saved time, lives, resources and made individual, society and nations more advanced and effective in many ways. By 2040, Mokokchung can aspire to race with the world along the digital highway. Besides, consistent coverage of all households, offices and academic institutions with ultra high speed Internet connectivity is also an aspiration. The schools and colleges should be running classes with state-of–the-art digitised systems and highly equipped teachers. Water supply, power supply, traffic regulation and other public domains need digitisation to promote efficiency.
Academic Aspirations
The number of schools in Mokokchung at present is probably not enough to deal with the increasing number of students both from within and outside Mokokchung. Establishing more schools will create more job opportunities and more student population. This can up the intellectual level of Mokokchung. Besides, with more academic institutions the frequency of brain drain can be contained. There are only three colleges at the moment namely, Fazl Ali College, Peoples College and Jubilee Memorial College. There is a dire need for higher education and technical education institutions to cater to the increasing number of students needing such education. Besides, many families face extreme financial constraints and cannot support their children’s education. Hence, technical institutions must come up within Mokokchung to cut the cost of expensive education outside. Mokokchung can become the academic hotspot of Nagaland.
Religious Aspirations
The Nagaland of today has been shaped by the tenets of the Christian belief system in promoting peace, forgiveness and reconciliation in a war and hatred-torn Naga society. The process is still going on. The church is a determining factor for the well-being of the Naga society. It needs a revamping of its strategies to make ethics and morality central in all the societal deliberations in order to establish a just society.
A SWOT Basis
An analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats can form a building block for the projects and strategic thinking towards Mokokchung Vision 2040.
The above areas of aspirations are not an exhaustive list but just some pointers to the possible improvements and developments of Mokokchung as per the needs analysis at the moment. Newer assets and liabilities will unfold with changing times and contexts.
Conclusion
Mary Mead, wife of Dr E.W. Clark, referring to the mission that was before them in the Naga Hills, wrote while they were still based at Sibsagar thus: “From the broad veranda of the mission bungalow we looked out day after day, on and on, beyond the villages, across the paddy fields, over the jungles of the plains, upon the mountains towering in silent grandeur against the southern sky…” There is a silent grandeur for Mokokchung
Taliakum Pongen
Mokokchung
