NAGAS for NAGAS

THE TRADITIONAL NAGA BELT

Our ancestors have creatively made this beautiful piece of art but its uses has been very limited or we don't see its potentials. Usually used with a sheath to carry Dao on the waist,mostly seen during festivals, while working,worn by men. However, if we look closely it has a lot of potential and uses from a traditional point of view like promoting our culture, wearing it for fashion,use it as an alternative to a leather belt. Just wear then observe and see it looks so beautiful on your waist,it's also very comfortable to wear,and it's very light too. I realised its potentials,its beautiful designs,comfort,its usefulness, and its traditional origin and use. I started wearing it, I thought it will be nice to share and encourage one another to wear, use and promote this beautiful and useful piece of art of our culture and showcase it in Nagaland, India,and worldwide. We usually wears a waistcoat, traditional scarf or muffler,a tie,and I think it's time we wear this beautiful traditional belt also. Once its use increase, its usefulness and identity will increase,and its demand will increase,which will help weavers to augment their income and creativity also from sales and designs. This can also be worn by girls and women.

Just like a bad workman blames his tools,some of our incompetent leaders are only blaming our local people instead of facilitating opportunities, encouraging participation, promoting our locals, employing and skilling of our local people. We all know that our State is dependent on migrant workers from other states. And after the lockdown due to Covid-19 majority of them have left Nagaland which has caused labour shortages leading to halting of many works,projects and even affecting our economy.Although it cannot be denied that majority of Nagas have no dignity of labour and we've only few or very few Naga workforce both skilled and unskilled as labourers and construction workers.However,the outbreak of Covid-19 is like a wake up call or an eye opener for the Nagas and many Nagas are now looking for jobs(big or small),willing and ready to work. I am not saying that we should not use the services of the migrant workers but we should also encourage our locals,give them opportunities, demand their service, prefer them also,employ,skill,and use the services of the locals too.Then only we can produce skilled and large Naga workforce. Even when locals are willing to work,how will they know when and where labourers and construction workers are required and how can the locals be confident when there is no demand for locals but preference is of migrant workers, when there is no advertisement specifying nature of work,place of work,wages,skill and workforce requirement.

As concerned Nagas, as leaders, as employers,how can you say that you want to help the Nagas, when you always prefer someone by saying that a Naga labour or worker is very expensive, unskilled, that there is shortage of Naga workforce without employing and giving opportunities to a Naga, when the preference is only migrant workers then how can we grow Naga workforce. It's very discouraging to see our Naga leaders in power and authority complaining and making excuses instead of generating employment for Nagas, providing opportunities, working on programmes and mechanisms to employ our Naga people instead of solely depending on the services of migrant workers. And hence they are like a bad workman who blames their tools.

While there will always be people to discourage us,some people to compete with us,there are also people who will support, encourage and help us. When many of us looks for opportunities and work outside our State there is already countless of opportunities and works in Nagaland. But opportunities don't always comes knocking at our door nor a postman will bring us an appointment order but we have to go out and find it.Getting education in schools, colleges,universities, does not guarantee us a government job or there is no such thing that if you are educated you should only look for government job, but education which one gained will be useless if we cannot even find a work,earn,feed,and support ourselves. And as we say that a bad workman blames his tools by referring and condemning our leaders, it also applies to all of us as well.

THE SAD EVOLUTION OF THE NAGAS

The only times one will see Nagas united and working as a team or in groups are during festivals, traditional community fishing,government offices,social works,awareness campaigns,which are very good but these are rare,limited,temporary and occasional. However, it's sad to say that one will not see united Nagas,a team or group of Nagas working together everyday to earn by working in the fields, markets,business,construction works,skilled and unskilled works, other kinds of works or places of works. Are we different or more advanced than other citizens of our Country? The people of other states who are non-NAGAS, they also come together in groups or teams like us in many occasions and they have people at the highest level to the lowest positions,but they also come together everyday to work in agriculture, in the Markets, in construction works, in business, skilled and unskilled works,and other kinds of works big or small,and they work together everyday in every fields and employs one another. They are very hard working,motivated,skilled, they have dignity of labour, and many of them even comes to Nagaland to work and earn,settle down because there are so much works,jobs,incomes and opportunities and they are everywhere working and flourishing in Nagaland. While on the other hand many of the Nagas are not working, sleeping, lazy,dependent, wasting time in unproductive ways and things,unskilled, very choosy,proud,unemployed and poor,and some are even forced to steal and extort money forcefully from some hard working people.

The Naga people wants development and growth in Nagaland but when development comes and the works begins or will start to build railways,roads ,bridges,sports stadiums,medical-agri-engineering colleges,government buildings, technology,smart city,and other projects; who will work in these projects? These projects or developments will generate a lot of works,jobs,employment,and provide huge incomes ,skill training,but many Nagas are not going to benefit from these projects because many Nagas will not work in these projects due to laziness,pride,lack of skills,lack of dignity of labour, and lack of local workforce. Thus the contractors, engineers,architects,technicians, will be forced to bring in or hire migrant workers both skilled and unskilled from outside of Nagaland to work and employ them in these projects and thus they will reap all the benefits of jobs,incomes,and skill development whereas the Nagas will only benefit the finished products. We cannot always blame our leaders,contractors, engineers, architects, technicians, employers,the migrant workers,because it's our own faults. We only complain how the projects are delayed,how the projects money are siphoned off by our leaders,the tax collectors,contractors, engineers, architects, and the technicians. We never try to understand how many Nagas lost or will lose an opportunity for jobs,works,incomes,skill development, and experience by not working in these developments projects. Besides there are also many private projects that employs thousands and thousands of migrant workers due to lack of Naga workforce.
How will Nagas grow if we don't work?

How beautiful it will be if Nagas work together from the highest to the lowest,in skilled and unskilled works, from production to creation,selling to buying,growing to eating,working and employing one another, creating jobs and building things,dependent to independent, then only Nagas will grow continuously, become self reliant and self sufficient.

We were planning to conduct 'MISSION UMBRELLA 2',this time we were thinking of giving the big umbrella to some beneficiaries and even the Deputy Commissioner of DIMAPUR Sir Anoop Khinchi had during our visit( Team NAGAS for NAGAS donated Rs 10000 for Covid-19) suggested this idea and also expressed his willingness to join us by donating some money but it seems that he will be transferred and given a new assignment. Nonetheless,team 'NAGAS for NAGAS ' believes that we will be able to do some social service (MISSION UMBRELLA 2 or others) in the near future after the lockdown situation improves.

As an act of social service,team 'NAGAS for NAGAS ' met the Deputy Commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur District on 14/07/20 (Tuesday)and donated Rs.10000(ten thousand) as a contribution to fight and contain Covid-19 Pandemic. Team 'NAGAS for NAGAS 'also presented one umbrella each to both the officers as a gift and as an expression of our respect to them for their good works. We also thank both the DC and the ADC once again for meeting us.As our motive was social service and not for self promotion,team 'NAGAS for NAGAS ' didn't took a group photo with the officers. Dear esteemed members and friends,team 'NAGAS for NAGAS ' will continue to do social service one after another, please remember us in your prayers.

'MISSION UMBRELLA'

When we are determined to work no matter how hot or cold the weather,and even if it rains we should do it. No one was expecting nor prepared for the outbreak of Covid-19 Pandemic. One of the positive impact of this Pandemic in Nagaland is that many Nagas have realised the need to work and earn,and we cannot remain dependent on others all the time.

To encourage and appreciate some of our people who've realised the need to come out and work and break the chain of dependency, today(11/07/20) team 'NAGAS for NAGAS ' consisting of three of us conducted 'MISSION UMBRELLA ' by giving one umbrella to each beneficiary. All the Nagas cannot be food vendors, entrepreneurs, farmers, but while they do their part the Naga consumers should also encourage and help them by buying from our Naga food vendors, entrepreneurs, and farmers. If we all do our part,then we can make Nagaland a self sufficient and self reliant State.

During 'MISSION UMBRELLA ', team 'NAGAS for NAGAS ' also co- incidently met DDADU President and his team who were distributing masks. To encourage one another, team 'NAGAS for NAGAS ' also presented one umbrella to the DDADU President as a sign of encouragement, appreciation, and respect for their good works.

I am going to bring couple of my friends to join me for social service. We are planning to undertake some activities for social service in the month of July, 2020. Please pray for us and hope good things from 'NAGAS for NAGAS'. NAGAS for NAGAS is now more than 2100 of us,thank you all.

Good words are like drinking clean and fresh water when you are very thirsty. It satisfies your thirst. It also cools and cleanse you.And when the good words are turned into good actions,it's like eating good food when you are hungry. It fills your stomach and gives you energy and health.

Today I 've done a small act of kindness and turned some of my good words into actions. But the fact is,it's about them who are an inspiration for us, and also by doing what they think is right.Yes,it's about them who are in the pictures. The old Naga woman sells local vegetables, fruits and other food items.She has been doing it for many years now. She is around 80 years old and she is an inspiration.The other women in the picture are also inspired by the old lady. The two young Naga boys in the picture are helping their mother to sell vegetables, fruits,and other food items. The two young brothers take care of the shop and sells,while the mother takes care of the house and the supplies of vegetables, fruits, and other food items for the shop. The two young brothers are students and they are not ashamed to work hard and earn. They were taught very well by their mother.

Today I visited and appreciated them and told them how they are an inspiration for people who see them and also for those who will know about them and their work. I also told them about the purpose of my visit and also donated a small amount of Rs.1500 to each of the old lady and the two young brothers to encourage them for their good works. As my motive was not to promote myself, I didn't took pictures with them nor made it look like I have donated money to them. Dear Naga brothers,sisters,and elders ,let's get some inspiration from them and also from others like them. NO work is small or big. Every job is important. Please select one work today and start to work,earn,skill,and grow.

***CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS OF RCC CONSTRUCTION WORKS FOR OUR YOUTHS AND NAGAS IN NAGALAND.

Traditionally we the NAGAS were not trained in RCC(Reinforced Cement Concrete)construction works and were mostly engaged in timber,bamboo,and thatch house building works and we have not developed much in the field of RCC construction works.In Nagaland till today majority of the construction works are carried out by the migrant workers making us dependent on them. While there are sufficient numbers of both government and private architects,contractors,engineers,most of them are selfish and busy in getting richer but are not doing much for the Naga people especially youths to get employment and training in construction works.We blame our youths for their laziness,their aspirations for government jobs,but there are still many youths and Nagas who are both skilled and unskilled willing to work but either they are not preferred,not hired,not aware of the projects,the contractors, engineers, building owners not willing to take the trouble of finding Naga workers,and mostly the workforce requirement are filled by the migrant workers who are skilled,plenty and easily available.

While the government has done a commendable job by training 550 youths(50 each from 11 districts),in construction works under the programme 'year of construction workers 2016-17',the government must not imagine that they have trained thousands and thousands or lakhs,the government must do more.The Naga contractors, engineers, should also employ and skill more of our Naga youths, give proper information through advertisement specifying workforce requirement, wages,inviting Nagas also to join,duration and location of project,skill requirement etc.The village councils,Youth organisations,should also be informed when there is a project, building construction, in an area,village,colony etc.This will help the village council,Youth organisations, to inform, search,employ,and give opportunities to the local people to get employment.If this communication is not done by the contractors, engineers,building owners,the village council and youth organisations should not allow or delay the projects or construction works. If such practice is implemented the numbers of both skilled and unskilled Naga construction workers will increase.

There are currently about 24,457(latest record 2020) construction workers (consisting of both locals and migrants),registered with the Nagaland Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board(NBOCW),under the Department of Labour,Government of Nagaland.Any genuine professional construction workers can register themselves under the NBOCW.Under the NBOCW social security scheme,once a person is registered he/she can avail benefits such as tools grant,insurance cover,medical assistance, children education allowance, maternity benefit for female workers and the wives of the male workers.A pension benefit scheme will also be introduced very soon for registered professional construction workers who have attained 60 years.Besides the social security scheme the welfare board also conducts free skill training for the local construction workers. The training is imparted by the Zynorique Initiative Society based in Kohima.

Many of us thinks that construction workers are only those masons and labourers.But construction workers includes architects, engineers, contractors, masons and labourers, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, painters etc.We are living in a modern world of RCC construction and therefore Nagas and especially Naga youths should take up training and works in RCC construction. It's one of the fastest growing sector in the economy of India and particularly in the North East region including Nagaland. The largest chunk of the government's annual development expenditure are accounted for by construction works besides providing one of the biggest avenues for employment.And construction works both in public and private sectors accounts to a major portion of the State economy in terms of flow of the finance in the market which has the potential to employ large number of workers. Let's all encourage our youths and our people to come out and work,and let's see if some of us are not doing enough for them or is a hurdle in their way.If you are at an advantaged position help others to reach and attain their small goals through your assistance.Be helpful to others and not become an obstacle.

The page "NAGAS for NAGAS"is not created to discriminate nor to create hate for the non-locals and immigrants who are visiting,living, and working in Nagaland. This Page is created to encourage Nagas,inform Nagas,and inspire Nagas to change themselves so that we can also change and inspire others and change Nagaland together for the good of the Nagas today and in the future. When Nagas prosper,Nagaland will also prosper. Thank you everyone.

Good news dear Nagas. Many opportunities are coming for those Nagas who are willing to work.While there are already so many opportunities in Nagaland, many of us failed to see those as opportunities. However, the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 or Covid-19 is showing us and reminding us where we failed and what changes and works we need to do. In just 3 months(March,April,May),we learned that our health system was poorly maintained,ill-equipped,and there were shortage of health personnel. We learned that we are lazy,unskilled,reliant and insufficient,we are not united,and we need more good leaders.We learned that more Nagas are required in Agriculture and allied sectors and we need to grow more food.We learned that we cannot be dependent on others always and taught us that Nagas have to do our own works.We also learned that Nagaland needs it's people to grow,only if the Nagas prosper our State will also prosper.There are many opportunities coming for those Nagas who will want to work in health sector,agriculture and allied sectors, businesses, labour sector(both skilled and unskilled),and many more will unfold very soon.Are we ready to work,be ready and be prepared.

Just recently we saw an advertisement in print media about labour requirements for bridge construction works(Sanuoru river bridge,Kohima),which is still incomplete.We can expect many more of such similar advertisements in the near future. As most of the migrant labourers have returned to their native states,Nagaland is facing shortages of labour workforce.Now the questions are,1.Who will fill this gap if not the Nagas?,2.Is this not an opportunity for the Nagas?,3.Is this not our work?,4.Are we going to wait ?,5.Are we ready to work?. 'Be the CHANGE you want to see in the world'. But I request you, be the CHANGE you want to see in Nagaland. Let's start from Nagaland first.

**Please read the article below, this appeared today on Nagaland Post.

Be the CHANGE you want to see in the world. But I request you,be the CHANGE you want to see in Nagaland. Let's start from Nagaland first.