Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, OCTOBER 29
MINISTER for Health and Family Welfare, Imkong L. Imchen today said the creative talent and labour power make the youth the foundation of any society. These are qualities he said which aid the nation to make strides in economic development and socio-political arenas.A former secretary of the students federation, Imkong was however addressing the students as chief guest on the 66th foundation day of the Naga Students Federation.He urged the youth to understand the dignity of labour and remember that “work is worship.” Accordingly, labour is not to be shirked or avoided under any circumstances and those who love it rise up in life, but those who despise labour remain static and lag behind others, he added.
He, therefore, encouraged the younger generation saying that no profession by itself is high or low, dignified and undignified, but it is the way which we pursue it that makes it sacred or otherwise.
Imkong shared his observations lamenting that despite the competitive times there are several educated youth who have yet to sppreciating the dignity of labour. They would rather starve than earn their living by honest labour,” he said.
The Minister challenged the NSF leaders to try to create awareness on the true dignity of labour in schools, colleges and universities.
He further called upon the students’ fraternity to try and take up the challenge of Green Environment in order to sustain the future of the Naga people. The ecological balance must be maintained and awareness must be created on preservation of the green environment.
NSF should take initiatives by creating its own green logo and programmes and spread it among schools and colleges, he added.
Parliamentary Secretary for Horticulture, Neiba Kronu, who is a former NSF president (1995-97), also exhorted the gathering while former NSF president (1973-73), Zaku Tsukru also dwelled on the history of NSF.
NSF President, Tongpang Ozukum, in his keynote address, maintained that the formation of the federation was neither due to sheer historical incident nor a mere perfunctory action but it was the educated Naga youth who felt the need for a collective body through which they could articulate their aspirations and at the same time respond to the issues confronting the students’ community in particular and the Nagas as a whole.
He also emphasized that the NSF has been playing a pivotal role of being the custodian of the different Naga students organisation in all the Naga inhabited areas ever since its formation and has always been at the forefront to voice out the legitimate aspirations of the Nagas and to seek fulfillment through peaceful means.
Ozukum further asserted that NSF will continue to fight against all forms of injustices and atrocities and carry forward the dreams and aspirations, aims and objectives of the federation with which its predecessors had formed this organisation.
Chaired by NSF tribunal general, Kelhouneizo Yhome, the function commenced with Pastor of Ao Baptist Church, Kohima, Rev. Yapang saying the invocation prayer. Special numbers were presented by Sheneita Curhah and Jonathan LN Mawai while NSF general secretary Esther Rhakho tendered the vote of thanks.
