Selfishness is our ‘biggest worry’—Along

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Oct. 26 (EMN): Pursuit of self-interest at the cost of collective welfare is the ‘biggest worry’ confronting Naga society today, according to Temjen Imna Along, Minister of Higher and Technical Education and Tribal Affairs.

“Our Naga society today have become individualistic; we talk about the welfare and uplift of the Naga society as a whole; but when the specific work or contract  is initiated, we think only of ourselves and our gains leaving aside the welfare of the society, which is our biggest worry today,” he said at the golden jubilee event of Kohima Japukong Senso Telongjem (KJST) at Molu Ki, Kohima on Saturday.

He added that even though ‘many plans will be made for our people’, without collective and inclusive efforts, all exercises will become futile in the end.

“There is no shortcut to success. We have built a society that wants to get jobs without writing exams; society that wants to be at the forefront but they only want to take contract and supply, and not execute it well. We want to have the pride and honour but we are not working for it,” Along said.

In a message to the younger generation, the minister said: “You are wonderful people but if you think that you will get free gift of great jobs, contracts and wisdom out of your laziness, then you are wrong.”

Hard work, consistency and persistence should be their motto in life, he advised.

“We want those people as leaders, those who want to work hard,” he said.

“If I do not perform (well), I do not deserve to stand here. I would rather open a shop and sell potatoes and rice,” he added.

Along went on to suggest that people should be able to accept and admit their own mistakes and rectify these blunders, which can only bring about a change in the society.

He further said that there should be no “village issue or clan issue”, and stated: “We have to leave these evil things as we, the young people, are fed up.”

Also, Along urged the people “to go back to our roots”; suggesting that is where change will come from.

He also suggested the people to farm their own organic plants, rear local poultry and pigs.

“If we are afraid to go to our fields, then how do we survive?” he questioned.

Benjongliba Aier, former legislator and advisor to KJST, also expressed concern over the number of unemployed youth in Nagaland today.

He urged the youth to engage in private sectors as government jobs have become scanty. Aier also encouraged them to start farming, as the Central government has come up with many good schemes for farmers, which could be a good avenue for the unemployed youth.

He also advised the students not to let modern technology and gadgets hamper their studies; and urged the parents to give proper guidance to their children in this modern age world while availing the advantage of modern technology.

Chubasenla, the president of Kohima Japukongtsur Telongjem (KJT) said that with the understanding of men and maturity in the society, the status of women in the society has improved and expressed gratitude to the Ao Senden, KAT and KJST for giving voice to the mothers, daughters and sisters of the society.