Kohima: Kohima has moved 15 steps up in the ‘Ease of Living Index’, revealed chief minister Neiphiu Rio at the 28th biennial conference of the Angami Students’ Union (ASU) in Piphema on Saturday.
Ever since the state’s capital Kohima was ranked as the second most ‘unlivable’ city in India by the ministry of housing and urban affairs in 2018, efforts have been put in to rebuild the sanctity of the city, both by the government and civil societies.
Addressing the inaugural session of the conference on Saturday, Rio urged all students to contribute towards preserving Kohima, in helping it retain its title as the state capital in the long run. He also pressed on the need to establish a “Save Kohima” movement wherein all civil societies should deliberate and execute in preserving the state’s capital.
The capital city Kohima is home to most Angami Naga tribes.
Meanwhile, Christopher Ltu, president, Naga Students’ Federation, insisted the students to “constructively contribute to the Naga-Political Issue” as it concerns the future of all Nagas and that it is “not only something to do with Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) and politicians”.
ASU, the apex student body of the Angami tribe, is a conglomeration of four ranges under Kohima and Dimapur districts, namely ‘Chakhro, Western, Northern and Southern’, having 77 villages affiliated to it with over 20,000 membership. While its main objective is to create “better opportunities for the students”, it also acts as a “great and strong pressure group in checking and cross checking” the governmental activities of the state.
To promote cleanliness, Vizokho Zashümo, in his secretary report on Friday, said, “As part of Social Reforms, the Union adopted sanitation and climate change as its theme and has launched ‘Car Bin’ Project by donating Car bins to the All Nagaland Taxi Association (ANTA)”. The Union, in collaboration with the Kohima Municipal Council, has also introduced the ‘dog impoundment law’ in an effort to create a ‘clean Kohima’.
Apart from a cultural display and academic activities, Naga wrestling, a traditional game symbolising the spirit of brotherhood, was the main highlight of the event.
Also, a new team of the ASU executive body, headed by Vizokho Zashümo as its president, was unanimously elected to serve a term of two years.
The three-day-long conference with the theme ‘Aspiring dynamics’ concluded on Sunday and was attended by thousands of students from all the four ranges, held in Piphema village, the midway point between Kohima and Dimapur districts.
