JAGAN, Nov 13: “It is only through education that we can bring social revolution,” said Education Minister Honchun Ngandam during a meeting with the people of Jagan village in Longding district on Monday.
Ngandam exhorted the villagers to give priority to their children’s education, saying, “It is in the hands of the youths and the students to destruct or construct a society,” and exhorted the youths of the village to “buckle up and work together towards progress.”
The villagers informed the minister that Jagan, which has around 125 houses and 1,520-odd population, is the only landless village in entire Wancho community, as they lost their ancestral land to the neighbouring country during the Indo-Myanmar land demarcation.
Informing that they are surviving through opium cultivation in their small area, the villagers said the recent government order to stop opium cultivation has made them devoid of resources and they now need a sustainable solution for their survival.
Any alternative schemes provided by the government under the horticulture and agriculture sectors would be meaningless for the landless villagers, they said.
Responding to the plea of one of the speakers, Chawpha Gangsa, for according special status to Jagan village and adoption of the village by the government under a special provision, Ngandam said he would discuss the matter with the government to see if there is any provision for according special status to a village.
Many villagers, as well as students and political leaders, suggested to the minister various measures that could be taken up for the welfare of the village.
WRD Assistant Engineer Kipa Pacha, who accompanied the minister, also spoke.
Later, the villagers resolved to submit a memorandum to the chief minister regarding their grievances through the education minister. (DIPRO)
