Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio on Friday called upon the people to work for peace and unity by setting aside all individual interest in order to facilitate solution, development, employment in the state, a press note from PS to MP stated.
Addressing the inaugural programme of Totok Omlen Village in Mon, Rio said “when there is peace and unity, our problems can be solved.”
While congratulating the people of Totok Omlen on being recognized as a village by the government, Rio also hailed the Konyaks of being the largest Naga tribe inhabiting Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. He stressed on the importance of unity and urged them to be an example to other Naga tribes.
Though people of the area were lacking in education and development, Rio however said “as people, you are not backward but at par with any other Naga tribe.” Rio expressed concern about the Human Development reports of the district which recorded the lowest literacy rate at 57 %, lowest per capita income and lowest life expectancy rate at 75 years on average.
Stating that 70% of Nagaland’s population was still rural, Rio challenged the Konyak Union, the gazetted officers, the various unions and the people to establish urban towns and cities in the plain areas of the district like Tizit in order to be more accessible and boost their economy. Rio informed that the Railway line from Dimapur to Tizit and further on to Arunachal Pradesh had been approved while a four-lane expressway along the same route was in the offing.
On the occasion, Rio donated an ambulance– in line with his gesture of donating an ambulance each to all the tribes of Eastern Nagaland, which was handed over to the district administration.
While suggesting Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong (KNSK) or Konyak Mothers’ Association to manage the ambulance service, he however called upon Konyak Union and its frontal organisations to discuss and finalise the same with the district administration.
Adviser, DUDA and NEPED, S. Pangnyu Phom also spoke on the occasion. Affirming that Phoms and Konyaks were not different from each other, Pangnyu called upon the people of the village to remember all those who were instrumental in establishing and getting the village recognized. He expressed gratitude to the chief minister and the cabinet for approving the recognition of Totok Omlen.
Earlier, the chief guest inspected the guard of honour by the Village Guards and then dedicated the commemorative plaque by cutting the ceremonial ribbon. Host of tribal leaders including parliamentary secretaries and government officials attended the programme.