Nagaland needs rethinking, redirection to progress – Advisor Khamo

LUMAMI — Advisor for CAWD and Taxes, Kudecho Khamo, on Thursday said Nagaland needs rethinking and a new direction for its growth and economic development.

The advisor was addressing the inaugural programme of the two-day international conference on ‘Rethinking economic development in India: sustainability, livelihood and efficiency,’ held at Nagaland University, Lumami in Zunheboto district.

Khamo said the progress and success of any economy depends on academia, researchers and think tanks to take a detailed assessment of its available resources in order to establish a clear roadmap for development in a planned manner.

Khamo argued that without research, a roadmap and analysis of any given situation, it will be challenging to lead or direct the economy.

The conference was organised by Department of Economics, Nagaland University, in collaboration with Nagaland Economic Association (NEA).

Maintaining that ‘Knowledge is power and thinking is capital,’ he elaborated that if a person has enough knowledge, then he has “power within,” and if one has the ability to think, analyse and move forward, then “that is the capital.”

He lamented that though Nagaland has human and natural resources it continues to remain poor, and the state’s economy is dependent on the generosity of the central government.

Khamo also pointed out that there is still a huge economic and developmental gap in the state, besides the overwhelming unemployment.

He went on to say that the educational system prevailing in the state is only producing job seekers and not job creators, and the attitude and mindset of the people, including the elites, is that government job is the only way for livelihood, progress and defining success.

He however acknowledged the significant contribution of entrepreneurship which has become a major influencer in nation-building.

Towards this, he called upon the scholars and students of economics to take the lead and prepare themselves with confidence to face the world.

Khamo also opined that Nagaland can be a hub for organic and other agricultural-allied products, which have global demand in the present day.

He also dwelled on the scope of meat production in the state, while reminding that the state has huge gaps in demand and supply of meat products.

Underscoring the need for the state to venture into the tourism industry, he said this sector can generate livelihood and employment for the local populace.

Vice-Chancellor of ICFAI University, Prof. Saundarjya Borbora, in his keynote address, said that there is a global urgency to create sustainable and more inclusive environments where efficiency and livelihood can play an important role.

Borbora highlighted that there is certain resentment in parts of the world to growth strategies being adopted across different countries, as some strategies have resulted in high unemployment and huge disparity, within and outside the countries.

In this regard, he said there is a need for a sound foundation and strategies that are universal and accessible and which can contribute to sustainable and inclusive development.

Vice-Chancellor in charge and Dean of Social Sciences, NU, Prof. M.K Sinha, in his speech, said the present generation needs to preserve and maintain a balance between the environment, economy and equity.

Prof. B Kilangla Jamir, HoD, Department of Economics, NU, who is also the president of the Nagaland Economics Association (NEA), in her introductory remarks, said the NEA was formed to give platforms to economists, scholars, teachers and students to discourse of economic issues.

She informed that 90 abstracts were received from scholars and contributors, and 75 papers will be presented during the two-day event.

On the occasion, the university also felicitated Khamo, an alumnus of the university, for his “outstanding accomplishments in his chosen field of endeavour.”

To mark the occasion, the conference souvenir was also released.

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