Nagaland deputy chief minister Y Patton will be the chief guest for the inaugural session. MLA Imkong L Imchen, minister, agriculture, Kaito G Aye, and minister, Higher Education and tribal affairs, Nagaland, Temjen Imna Along, would be special guests during the two-day CNSA conference.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
It is said that boundaries are “social markers” and they actually reinforce the division of the society based on the taglines of tribe, class, gender and many other factors. With the necessity of breaking away from divisions so as to usher in a “united society” without conflicts, Central Nagaland Students’ Association (CNSA) is on a mission to rejuvenate “holistic living and growth”. The student body hopes to narrow down barriers created due to historical, social, and political interactions between different tribes in Nagaland.
Over two years of planning since the last general conference held in the year 2018, Wokha, CNSA is leaving no stone unturned in hosting the 4th annual general conference to be held on April 18 and 19 at Agri Expo Site, 4th Mile, Diphupar, on the theme “Beyond Boundaries”.
Nagaland deputy chief minister, Y Patton will be the chief guest for the inaugural session, while MLA Imkong L Imchen, minister, agriculture, Kaito G Aye, and minister, Higher Education and tribal affairs, Nagaland, Temjen Imna Along, would be special guests during the two-day CNSA conference.
With the hectic preparations on, a press conference was called Saturday at the expo site to give a brief peek into the proposed conference.
Highlighting on the formation of CNSA and its objectives during the press meet, president, CNSA, Himato Yeptho, who also chaired the press meet reminded that the association was formed in 2010 with an objective to uphold unity amongst the “brothers” in exchanging cultural similarities and also to uplift each others in different fields.
Stating that the CNSA since its formation in the year 2018 has been working for the welfare of the students’ community, Himato said that in the last 3rd general conference of the CNSA held in the year 2018 at Wokha, it was decided that the next conference would be held in Dimapur.
Also speaking at the press meet, convenor of the organizing committee for the 4th CNSA annual general conference, S Zhevishe Sumi, informed that the three tribes comprising of Ao, Lotha, and Sumi, with consultations from “seniors” had come under one umbrella in forming the Central Naga Students’ Association (CNSA).
Stating that though the association will cooperate with the other tribal unions and associations in the state, Zhevishe reminded that like any other organizations or associations, it also functions in its own ways. He also stated that CNSA was not formed out of compulsion but with a vision to address the different issues.
Zhevishe further added that CNSA determined to bring all the Nagas under one umbrella for which he said would be one of the most important agenda to be discussed in the three-day conference.
Around 100 delegates from each unit of the three tribes of the CNSA apart from the other invitees and special guests have been invited and would be attending the general conference.