and a responsibility
Arenjungla Kichu Mokokchung | 31 July
The long wait for an office of the Ongpangkong Students’ Conference (OKM) ended on Friday with the inauguration of its new office building at Arkong Ward, Mokokchung. But with the new institutional space comes greater responsibility for the student body.
The office building, which traces its origin to a resolution adopted at an OKM conference at Longmisa village in 2003, was inaugurated by Minister of Rural Development & SIRD, Metsübo Jamir in presence of Nagaland Lok Sabha MP Supongmeren Jamir.
For OKM, the building marks the culmination of a long journey. Convenor of the construction committee, Y Akum Senpo Jamir, said a committee was constituted in 2023 after years of challenges. Determined not to raise funds from students, the committee instead sought contributions from leaders of the Ongpangkong community.
Along with several Ongpangkong leaders, the four Ongpangkong legislators contributed to the project, while Er Imlisunep, Principal of ITI, contributed his expertise to the design and architectural work, he said.
Yet, speakers at the inauguration made clear that the significance of the building would ultimately depend on what the student body does with the platform it now has.
Minister of Rural Development & SIRD, Metsübo Jamir challenged young people to rethink their understanding of education and independence, asserting that “education is empowerment, not entitlement.”
He questioned the growing dependence of educated youth on their parents even after acquiring qualifications and called for a change in mindset that would enable young people to become self-reliant.
He also urged parents to be more conscious of how they raise their children, saying a generation was emerging that often appeared uncertain about what to do after completing its education.
Lok Sabha MP Supongmeren Jamir, meanwhile, cautioned students against becoming overly dependent on artificial intelligence, urging them to retain the value of hard work and independent effort.
He challenged OKM to ensure that its newly acquired office does not become merely a place for students to gather and socialise, but a space where they can develop visions, deliberate on issues and work towards addressing real-life problems.
The Arkong Ward Chairman, while welcoming the establishment of the OKM office in the ward, drew attention to a number of issues confronting young people and the wider community. He highlighted concerns over POCSO cases and child labour, and also urged the student body to remain alert to issues such as ILP, extortion and other social problems.
He also pointed to the Tzürangkong range, where agricultural activity and development are expanding, and encouraged the Ongpangkong community to pay greater attention to the area’s emerging potential as a future commercial hub.