Deputy chief minister Y Patton on Tuesday said the State government was working towards opening police outposts in some border areas. In this regard, he said proposal for establishing police outposts at Yimpang and Yanmhon in Wokha district had been taken up by the government.
Patton, who is in charge of home and road & bridges, said this while speaking as a special guest at the 51st General Conference of Lotha Students’ Union (LSU), which was hosted by Lotha Lower Range Students’ Union at Merapani (Maratchu) on the theme “Towards greater responsibility”.
He, however, explained that for taking up such developmental works, the government needed support and cooperation of the people. He therefore appealed to the people to come forward when the government approached them for land.
“Extend cooperation and support the government, only then developmental activities will take place,” he exhorted.
Pointing out that Wokha district shared a long boundary with Assam that posed a serious danger of influx of illegal immigrants, especially via Merapani, the deputy chief minister called for educating and sensitising the people on not to give shelter to illegal immigrants for cheap labour.
He cautioned that with implementation of ILP in Dimapur, Wokha foothill belt would be one of the most vulnerable areas and therefore appealed to all stakeholders to take cognisance of the situation and refrain from issuing certificates to the illegal immigrants. In this regard, he also urged the student body to play a proactive and pivotal role for effective implementation of ILP.
Patton also called for unity among various Naga political groups as the Centre would deliver only one solution to the long protracted Indo-Naga issue. He appealed to organisations to formulate a mechanism to bring them together under one fold.
Reminding the students that mere degrees would get them nowhere in the present scenario, he stressed they needed to change their mentality with positive approach and that their education should be an utility and asset to the society.
Earlier, the deputy chief minister unveiled the 51st LSU conference’s monolith. He was accompanied by Dimapur and Wokha district administration officials, besides officials from various departments, elders and a host of party workers.
Short speeches were delivered by Wokha deputy commissioner Orenthung Lotha, Naga Students’ Federation president Ninoto Awomi, Lotha Hoho chairman Er Mhondamo Ovung and Lotha Hoho Dimapur chairman YL Jami. They urged the students to rededicate themselves and work hard for their future.