Director NEZCC, Dimapur Som Kamei on Saturday said,out of 19.81 lakh population as per census 2011, only Nagaland only 10% of the population is rich and the rest living from hand to mouth. Kamei also lamented teh fact that Nagas are lazy by nature and only try to “eat commission” to become rich.
“But if we have commitment and hardwork there will be strong economic foundation in the family and community as whole,” he said.
Kamei said this while speaking as the guest speaker at general meeting of Tenyimi Union Dimapur (TUD) at TUD office premises.
He said history of Naga culture is unshakeable, adding, “We as Nagas and particularly as Tenyimis have to survive through this economy.”
He also urged the gathering to not only seek help from the government but to move ahead by helping each other. Speaking on preservation of culture, he said, “The biggest feeling of being a Naga and particularly belonging to one community or ethnic group like Tenyimi, is that we have a very a strong bond, which is actually unexplainable”, adding that identification was one the most important thing which one can prove through culture.
To ensure cultural unity, he said the younger generation should define and refine culture as culture is not static but it keeps changing.
In order to promote culture, Kamei said Nagas need more seminars and youth orientation programme, where TUD could play a vital role.
To this, he urged TUD to encourage the youth not through “unpractical tradition” but to prove their identification through culture.
However, Kamei said beyond culture, economic activity and development was also necessary.
Others who attended the programme included president Naga council Dimapur Savi Legise, unit presidents from different groups.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by Thaban Rongmei, God’s blessing was invoked by David, pastor, Poumai Baptist Church, Dimapur, welcome song by Mao unit, Dimapur, welcome speech by N. Thong Seb, secretarial report by secretary TUD, finance report by treasurer TUD and Vote of thanks was pronounced by Mezhülie Vüprü.