And some of these 'journeys' never began !! Educated Naga youths have landed in a terrible quagmire ---- Many a times one may think ... whether they 'still' believed what they were taught ... or they came up the 'wrong ladder' ??

Treat the following declarations as 'preambles' !!

** 

Nagaland has resources, but people are not resourceful. 

** After declining for three consecutive years, the unemployment rate in Nagaland surged by over 65% in 2023-24, highlighted by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. 

** Less emphasis given in Science and Technology vis-à-vis arts, music and even Theology as youths are not very inclined in taking up science subjects in higher studies.

** (Now --- the question can any state with these backdrops -- besides millions others - can progress by hops, leaps and bounds ??

 

Settle down. We may write some of our analyses and stories alongside anecdotes .... with tears in eyes or 'anguish' in mood !!

These figures should force to give a clarion call... 

Among the private colleges --

St Joseph College, Kohima has the highest enrollment with 3,996 students

-- Followed by Tetso College, Chümoukedima, with 1,823 students. 

Loyem Memorial College, Tuensang, had only one enrollment in 2024-25.

Talk to state Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio -- "in office for over two decades" -- 

-- and he would say - the NDPP journey (his party and Govt) has been 100 per cent "success story".

Well, politically speaking - he is not alone to claim so.

India's "second oldest regional party" - after DMK - now says --- Rio should take charge'guardianship of the NPF too !

(Instead of finding a fertile ground to take on the 'failing' NDPP-BJP dispensation - the NPF - the party of legacies of A Kevichusa, Vizol and Vamuzo ....

want something else ....

'ministerial berths'. That also -- 'na paabo toh'.

Chief Minister himself has declared !! 

Bravo democracy --- Power takes it all.

Late Governor La Ganesan felicitating cadet Shudziini Chishiiote - 2023 

'Regional bhai-bhai .... "Naga nimitey kaam karibo" spirit is not much linked to the future and present of the Youths.

'Making Nagaland dwarf in some respects' !!

Nagaland has a total of 94 higher education institutions: 

Five universities (four private), 

- one National Institute of Technology. 

- 71 affiliated colleges under Nagaland University 

(54 private and 17 government), 

- One autonomous scientific institution under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, 

- Three autonomous colleges (two private and one government). 

13 professional colleges (two government B. Ed and seven private B. Ed colleges). three law colleges (private), and one school of nursing.

A total of 10,436 students were enrolled in government colleges during 2024-25, while 22,479 students enrolled in private colleges during the same period.

Among government colleges, 

Kohima College and Kohima Science College have the highest number of enrollments, with a total of 1,897 students and 1.744 students, respectively. 

New Model College Wakching in Mon - have 7 students

and - New Model College Mangkolemba in Mokokchung have 19 students 

Data also shows that out of the 55 private colleges across the state, 

-- 29 colleges are in the general Dimapur area (including Niuland and Chümoukedima), 

- 17 in Kohima district, 

- Four in Mokokchung district 

- Two in Tuensang, and 

Wokha, Peren. and Mon districts have one private college each.

(Peren region was lucky to have CM T R Zeliang - and who is now deputy CM

Wokha district - has a deputy Chief Minister of "party with a difference' quality - Y Patton since 2018

Mon - has 10 MLAs --- key ministers and BJP's "well traveled Rajya Sabha MP.

 And overall the political veteran Chingwang Konyak as the NDPP boss !!

Long back this gentleman had said --- "I am not a rubber stamp president"

He also did not mind quitting as pradesh Congress chief when S C Jamir had instructed Neiphiu Rio and K Therie to visit Sushilkumar Shinde and deny ticket to Chingwang for a by-election.

Sources say on Sept 12 meeting --- Chief Minister Rio 'tried' to keep Chingwang cool and appreciated him repeatedly taking names at least six times !!

Blogger - "When angry with my argument; my father used to say You think like a Naga"

I had a chance meeting with some police retired police and civil officials.

One gentleman --- who loves referring to Gujarat -- said :

"Low Participation in NCC in Nagaland is a factor... we should look into.

Fewer students in Nagaland have been taking up NCC due to a combination of factors, including a lack of incentives from state government for NCC certificate holders in government jobs".

In fact, I told him about "general lack of awareness" about the benefits of NCC among youth in Nagaland and also in other north eastern states.

He agreed and underlined on the need for development of virtues --

Leadership, Discipline and Confidence. 

It provides basic military training with exposure to the Army, Navy and Air Force offering opportunities for scholarships and adventure courses.

Things like mountaineering and trekking besides providing reservations and special entry into govt jobs and paramilitary forces -- are something he referred to.

Can the State Education and Higher Education Depts make enrollment to the NCC mandatory for all schools and colleges ?

Our discussions were almost over. The samosa was getting cold and then someone chipped in .... a young lady, a student and she remarked: 

" Nothing can work ....any individual is considered 'employed' only if he/she holds a Govt job and the rest are looked down". 

I kept smiling. And then our expert friend remarked -- "Mind is the root of all evils".

ends