The year has barely begun, yet a series of reports from Mokokchung point to a troubling pattern that deserves urgent reflection. Taken individually, each issue may appear manageable. Viewed together, they reveal something deeper and far more unsettling about the direction Mokokchung is heading.
First came the Nagaland Police recruitment figures, where Mokokchung recorded fewer male candidates qualifying than the number of vacancies allotted. This was not a question of opportunity but of basic physical preparedness. When young men fail to clear minimum fitness standards for uniformed service, it raises uncomfortable questions about health, discipline, and seriousness of intent.
Soon after, another report revealed that Mokokchung has zero registered startups, even as Nagaland is recognized nationally as a leader in startup performance. Districts like Kohima and Dimapur show hunger, curiosity, and initiative. Mokokchung, by contrast, appears absent from the entrepreneurial map. Awareness programs exist, but participation is weak. The problem, as admitted by officials themselves, is mindset.
Then came the editorial reality check over green chilli, after the Mokokchung Municipal Council revised its price following an increase at the base market in Assam. Mokokchung depends almost entirely on Assam for even a basic vegetable like green chilli. Local supply remains seasonal, unplanned, and vulnerable. This is not merely about chilli. It reflects deeper gaps in agricultural planning, technology transfer, and accountability.
Put together, these are not isolated failures. They form a pattern that is too clear to ignore. A physically declining youth. A non enterprising mindset. An economy dependent on external supply even for essentials. More worrying is the sense of dead consciousness. Those who know do not seem to care enough to lead. Those who do not know do not seem eager to learn. Everyone exists inside a comfortable bubble.
When that bubble bursts, the consequences will be unfortunate. Intellectual bankruptcy. Over dependence. Loss of self-reliance and the headhunter spirit.
Course correction is urgently needed. Thought leaders must lead. Trained experts and subject matter specialists must teach, mentor, and intervene. Mokokchung cannot afford apathy anymore. These signs are warnings. Ignoring them will only deepen the crisis.