Pointing out that seeking favours from others was the starting point of corruption in Naga society, Imna Along said that the state has many avenues for self reliance
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
Nagaland’s minister of higher and technical education and tribal affairs, Temjen Imna Along, on Saturday last said that the Nagas have the habit of “knocking at every possible door seeking favours for their children on vote counts”.
He was speaking at the Graduation day for Class XII cum launching event of Dr Ahoto Andrew’s debut book titled “3C SOS-The Final Answer” at the Living Stone Foundation International, Dimapur.
Pointing out that seeking favours from others was the starting point of corruption in Naga society, Imna Along said that the state has many avenues for self reliance where the state is in need for every professions including masons, electricians, carpenters, plumbers, who are to be well paid but lamented that most of the parents including elders are almost dependent on their elected legislators in seeking government jobs for their wards on “vote counts”.
On this trend, the minister called upon the student communities not only to be dependent on “white coloured jobs” but to look beyond and try their hands at business and other professions as well.
He also highlighted how a major chunk of the state’s GDP is diverted outside the state as most of the students go out of the state for their educational needs.
Later, Temjen Imna Along, extended his appreciation towards the efforts of LFI and educationists including Dr Andrew Ahoto Sema for making quality education a reality within the state of Nagaland and beyond.
Giving an abstract from his maiden book, the author, Dr Andrew Ahoto Sema, who is also the chairman of LFI, said that “3C SOS-The Final Answer” is a non-fiction illustrative and informative book which covers the adventurous journey to “Mt Everest Fashion Runway” in Nepal that he along with his son undertook in January, 2020, and also seeking to bring about a wide-scale transformation in not only education but also in environmental concerns throughout the country and beyond.
Meanwhile, altogether 96 students from the LFI belonging to various streams of the 2021 batch graduated their Senior Secondary School and were awarded with graduation certificates.
Internationally renowned musician and crooner, Alobo Naga, belted out one of his popular numbers.
The “punch” of the programme was the appearance and performance by Pranshu Arora from ‘Inspire the Nation’ which is an initiative of travelling more than 20,000 Kms by road to around 60 cities in 100 days to play music and inspire people to pursue music.
On his Nagaland leg journey which coincidentally happens to be his 23rd leg, he visited LFI and shared some of his moments with the gathering including the students.
It may also be mentioned that the Graduation Day and Book Launch gained even greater significance as coincidentally, April 23 is observed worldwide as the UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day.
The day also coincides with both the birth as well as the death anniversaries of the greatest English poet, actor and playwright of all times, William Shakespeare.
The cover of the book was earlier released on August 15, 2020, advisor School Education, Nagaland, K Tokugha Sukhalu, at Dimapur while the book itself was released by Meghalaya chief minister, and National president, National People’s Party (NPP), Conrad K Sangma at Shillong on November 14, 2020.