Mokokchung | October 11
Stating that the world is shrinking smaller, not into a global village but into a global room, Sentilong Ozukum SDO (Civil), Mokokchung urged young people to be prepared for the future. He said that in the next thirty years India will be the leading provider of skills, excellence and expertise in various fields to the world.
“Today we need to zoom in into our skills, expertise, and innovation,” he said, while speaking as the chief guest during the celebration of Yuva Utsav 2022, District Youth Convention organized by the Nehru Yuva Kendra, Mokokchung in collaboration with Ao Students’ Conference on 11 October at Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung on the theme “Take Pride in our heritage and legacy.”
Ozukum in his speech said that India is the youngest nation with a median age of 28.4 years where 50% of Indian population is below 35 years of age and that in the next ten years the country will largely depend on what the young people are doing today. He said that the young people have the rare opportunity to take the responsibility of carrying the country on our shoulder
Talking in line with the theme, he further stated that India is a legacy, the largest democracy in the world with principles of secularism, liberty, and equality, and that India is a diverse country with distinct religions, castes, sub castes, race, and languages where people come together and live in unity. “But the foundation of this legacy and heritage is being shaken up today,” he stated.
“Even if tomorrow India becomes a superpower with a five trillion-dollar economy in the year 2030, if India by that time is a country where somebody or some authority is telling me what language to speak and what religion to follow, I would not be very comfortable living in that India no matter how advanced it is,” he stated.
“Our heritage and legacy lies in the fact that there is diversity in the country, you and I are different, but together we live in unity and that is the spirit we need to take on for the next century and for the next decade,” he concluded.
The first session of the youth festival witnessed various kinds of competition which included painting, photography, writing, declamation, and Yuva samvaad. Youths from different colleges in Mokokchung participated in the competition.
The second session was graced by Sentilong Ozukum SDO (Civil), Mokokchung as the special guest and witnessed talks from four young achievers. The four young achievers included Limalenden Longkumer, Editor, Mokokchung Times, Vitolu Chishi, EAC, Mokokchung, Marshilu Pongen, Entrepreneur and Wapang Ozukum, Artist and Governor awardee.
The keynote address was given by S. T. Haokip, District Youth Officer, NYK, Mokokchung while the vote of thanks was pronounced by Nungdokyanger Ao, president, AKM.