KOHIMA, MARCH 4: Nagaland Advisor for Information Technology & Communication, Science & Technology and New & Renewable Energy Mmhonlumo Kikon today stressed on the need for policy makers and policy implementers, especially engineers to work together on ground data for equitable development in the State.
He was speaking during the World Engineering Day, organised by the Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Service Associations (FONSESA), on the theme “Build back wiser – Engineering the Future”, at Hotel Japfu here.
Stressing on the collaboration between policy makers and development policy implementers, he said that it is important for both to join hands.
As a 2nd-term legislator of the State, he expressed concern that there is no equitable distribution of resources on the basis of what is needed in any and every area, village, Sub-Division or district of the State.
Since statehood there have been attempts by many brilliant minds to ensure equitable development, but the data on the ground says it is not so with Nagaland being driven by the politics of tribalism and self-interest, he said.
“Sometime we see greed emerging out of the minds of some of the political leaders in the past, which is not specific to Nagaland only”, he said.
“As engineers, you have the data and therefore should do the analysis accordingly, while as policy makers the legislators are also supposed to do that but miss out often”, he said. For sustainable development, policy makers need to decide on policies based on ground realities and available data, said Kikon.
Nagaland comes from village republics and is also a political State and therefore there is need for proportionate representation on the basis of data and any development policy should be based on the development criteria lest we will always remain a tribalistic society having petty fights, which will hamper and hinder the development of the State, he said.
“We should think and work together towards equitable development and unless we do that there is no future for our children”, he said.
Targeted policy intervention is the need of the hour to ensure developmental equity in Nagaland so that not only one tribe benefits but every tribe, whether big or small, develops and grows, only then we will have a sweeter and better Nagaland, he said.
He encouraged the engineers to envision development with love and concern for the people of Nagaland irrespective tribal affiliations.
The concept of tribal domination is old and we should do away with such thoughts, he said while expressing that today we are living in a world of interdependence with globalisation as the biggest force towards the development of human beings and resources.
Kikon, therefore, challenged engineers as officers of the Government to be innovative in their profession and use their respective positions towards meaningfully contributing to a better Nagaland through knowledge.
It is time that all should join hands for a data driven development initiative instead of greed and tribalism to decide the future of Nagaland, said Kikon.
Meanwhile, touching on social issues, the legislator while saying that a community is known by the kind of leaders it produces and highly literate communities produce educated leaders… leaders whom all can respect
FONSESA president, K Hutoi Sema said World Engineering Day was proclaimed by UNESCO at its 40th general conference in 2019 and it is celebrated worldwide on March 4 since 2020. He said the theme focuses on engineering for sustainable development.
The celebration is also about promoting engineering as a career and how it is an opportunity to change the world for the better to ensure that everyone has access to clean water, sanitation, reliable energy, and other basic human needs, he said.
It is also to deal with the impact on climate change, environmental issues, our growing cities and the challenges of new technologies including artificial intelligence, he said.
Today Nagaland, as a State, has important vision and mission in the areas of rural development, renewable energies, agriculture and food procession, information and communication technology, education, etc, he said.
In this, Sema said the engineering profession with the right skills is the foundation on which all engineers should stand, then only will their goals and vision become clear towards sustainable development.
Chaired by FONSESA vice president Neingumeü Kire the programme commenced with prayer by NCRC Sumi Pastor Kughavi V Chishi while technical reports were presented by Joint Director of Department of Geology and Mining Chirhotho Rasutho and Project Officer Kekhriezhalie Sorhie.
(Page News Service)
