With the objective to strengthen the government-citizen relationship, Nagaland chief minister, T.R. Zeliang on Saturday held an interactive session with young entrepreneurs and students of Nagaland over breakfast at the CM’s official residence, Kohima.
CMO media cell said 11 young bloggers, who had been posting positive suggestions, ideas and opinions on a regular basis with regard to local governance were hand-picked for an interactive discussion with chief minister. The 11 youngsters were Jenpu Rongmei, a social worker and chief functionary of CAN Youth; Temsusenla Kichu, an entrepreneur and proprietor of Fusion Store, Dimapur; Imtisunep Longchar, entrepreneur and proprietor of e-commerce website www. Ilandlo.com; Lovi Chophi, Mumbai based entrepreneur; Khrolo Lasushe, a student; T. Amen Jamir, a government employee; Tsalila Rudy, a fresh graduate; Vikato S. Aye, an activist; Steve Chophy, a student leader serving as DSSU general secretary; Inaka Achumi, a young advocate; Mughabeto Ayemi, young visiting lecturer at IFCAI University, Dimapur and Jacob Thuu, a student leader.
The interactive session lasted for nearly three hours.
The ‘breakfast with CM’ initiative was a modest attempt to deliberate on issues constantly raised by youths on social media and to allow youngsters to share information, opinions and ideas with the chief minister himself for improvement of local governance in the state, CMO stated.
CMO expressed regret that the image of Nagaland in social media “is being adversely affected due to irresponsible criticism, rumors and statements posted and circulated without proper authentication in recent times.” However, on the other had there were also several bloggers who come up with ideas and suggestions worth utilizing for good local governance, it added.
CMO maintained that the present day Government under the leadership of chief minister, T.R. Zeliang was determined to streamline government working system and work tooth and nail while allowing youths to interact and participate in the governance process.
“Youths are the backbone of society and they are our assets, our future and our leaders for tomorrow and to inculcate in them, the importance of integrity in governance while giving them the privilege to understand its functioning will go a long way in choosing the right approach to build a vibrant society,” it said. The interactive session covered various topics pertaining to the state ranging from roads, power, art, sports, education and tourism to youth policies, students’ scholarship and mid-day meals.
CMO assured that the government was putting-in its best effort in addressing various issues. While appreciating the moves of its citizens in airing grievances, CMO called upon all to inculcate a practical and democratic approach in solving issues at any given point of time.
The need of the hour was to guide and lead the youths into the mainstream of society by educating and inculcating in them the true spirit of leadership and integrity, CMO said.
“The practice of fomenting youths in spreading hidden propaganda on social media, negligible it may be, and the encouragement to use arms, catapults, stones and sticks in their propagated endeavour for good local governance is not only a clear case of exploitation but a dangerous trend which calls for urgent attention,” CMO stated.
CMO said that the government was firm in taking up the matter of road connectivity, backdoor appointments and corruption on priority basis.
For this, CMO opined that any civil society or NGO including youths would do better by embracing the call of the government by suggesting measures towards strengthening and developing policies and programs meant for general welfare.
Building all-season roads, stimulating a culture of integrity, putting in place anti-corruption control measures, recognizing corruption reporting mechanisms etc cannot be accomplished within a short period of time and as such, youths must come up with citizen-friendly initiatives before the government instead of organizing agitation, rallies and bandhs which are provocative in nature, it added.
CMO said that unless youths join hands with the government and broaden their understanding on the complexities of problems in the state, neither the practice of confronting the government physically nor spreading irresponsible and false information on social media, would take the society to the desired level.
The government was also of the view that without serious effort to integrate youth participation measures into development policies, sustainable development goals of the government cannot be achieved
CMO said that the door of the government was always open for discussing issues in a democratic manner in-order to bring public grievances to its logical conclusion.
CM seeks feasibility report
Acting swiftly on the representation for establishing of additional government college and government higher secondary schools in Dimapur, the chief minister has expressed desire that the concerned department examine matter and feasibility report be prepared and put up with comments/views on priority.
In an official communiqué to the chief secretary, the secretary to CM, Kelei Zeliang, stated that the representation was submitted by Dimapur Sumi Students’ Union (DSSU) general secretary, Steve Chophy, during the breakfast-cum-interactive session held with the chief minister on October 28, 2017.