The North East India International Model Nations (NEIMUN) 2024, ninth edition of the conference kicked off with the participation of around 150 youth leaders from across Northeast India in Dimapur, Nagaland. This three-day academic simulation of the United Nations (18th- 21st, 2024) is designed to train and inspire the youth to actively engage and learn about global and regional challenges, strengthen their public speaking skills, develop research abilities and connect with young leaders across the region.
Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, Founder of the Tipra Motha Party and Elected Member of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), delivered a powerful keynote on indigenous identities and cross-border security challenges faced by Northeast India. He emphasized the shared histories and challenges of indigenous communities in Northeast India and neighboring countries. Managing immigration, he argued, should be a collective national responsibility rather than a burden placed solely on the Northeastern states. He advocated for fostering trade relations and short visits between border states and neighboring countries, following proper legal procedures.
The NEIMUN Youth Town Hall, under the theme “Empowering Youth for Peace, Economic Development, and Inclusive Diplomacy,” discussed a wide range of social, geopolitical, and governance challenges in Northeast India. The session, moderated by Deep Shankar Nath, saw contributions from esteemed panel speakers who offered valuable insights on how young people can influence governance, public policy, and regional cooperation.
Lungleng, inspired the young leaders, offering valuable lessons from his experiences as a development professional, a German Chancellor Fellow, and a media personality in Nagaland where he discusses politics and policy, with nearly 100K followers on YouTube. He emphasized strategies for distinguishing between information and misinformation on digital platforms, urging young people to “seek objective information, carefully analyze data, and remain vigilant”. He encouraged them to “verify facts by asking relevant questions” to those providing the information.
Sole Tep, one of the youngest elected members Deputy Chairperson of Tseminyu Town Council, Nagaland encouraged the young leaders by sharing her experiences on the importance of young people being part of decision making bodies. She expressed how “working and giving back to the community was always the source of inspiration and motivation to do work. The older generation in communities should pass on their knowledge and experience to the young ones while the young ones should arm the older generation with the advancement of technology and by taking small initiatives”.
Moasunep K Jingru, EAC at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Kohima challenged the youths to be “proactively involved in learning about economic policies, financial schemes and politics of the region. Financial literacy and economic development are the key factors where the youth should put their energy into. This will ensure that the whole community is moving towards development.”
The event began with a welcome address by Nikila Sogya from Sikkim, the Secretary-General of NEIMUN 2024 who highlighted the significance of youth leadership in shaping the region’s future. Nikila emphasized the importance of events like NEIMUN in providing young individuals with a platform to discuss, reflect, and act on key issues impacting their communities.
The opening session featured Zubeni Ngullie, NEIMUN Executive Board Member, who reflected on how NEIMUN has transformed the perspectives and potential of the region’s youth over the years. She highlighted NEIMUN’s impact on empowering young leaders to play a pivotal role in addressing governance and the social issues, making it an invaluable platform for youth development.
The conference will continue over the next two days, offering young leaders the chance to participate in sessions aimed at developing their understanding of regional issues and equipping them with the tools needed to drive sustainable development in Northeast India. NEIMUN Foundation remains dedicated to empowering youth to become agents of change, contributing meaningfully to the region and the world.