Naga Forum Delhi sets a novel example by reaching out to their brethren across the border

By Vangamla Salle K S Dimapur (Nagaland) [India] Nov.1 (ANI): They share same history, culture and traditions, but Nagas in India's northeast region are set apart by boundaries. Eastern Nagas living in the interior parts of the border in the northeast region are set apart from the rest of the world. Nearly 100 villages in the interior parts of the region lack electricity, proper education and employment. In the absence of proper sanitation and heath care facilities, at least 80 children from 20 villages lost their lives from the measles epidemic recently. But Naga Forum Delhi recently decided to reach out to them during their worst crisis when measles broke out in which at least 80 children lost their lives. It is in this context that Nagas living in Delhi took up an initiative by providing basic necessities to the affected families. The idea was to bridge the gap between Indian Nagas and Nagas living in the border areas and also to sensitize the Nagas in general about the living condition of the people in the International border. The Naga Forum Delhi sent its teams to three most affected regions -- Khonsa in Arunachal Pradesh, Pangsha in Tuensang district of Nagaland and Longwa village in Mon district of Nagaland. "We are here in Longwa to distribute relief materials for the people affected in measles epidemic and the aftermath. After the epidemic where 85 children died, they now have faced a famine like situation. So now we have come here to distribute whatever we can and we have come all the way from New Delhi. We have also distributed the materials in Khongsa region in Arunachal Pradesh and in Pangsha of Tuensang district of Nagaland," said Ac Kharingpam, General Secretary, Naga Forum Delhi. The teams provided medicine, rice, pulses, milk, tea leaves and other basic items. The NFD teams reached more than 100 villages living across the border areas. Many of the villagers who had come to receive relief materials called upon the government on both sides of India and Myanmar to allow the people to cross the international border to buy basic commodities from the nearest market. "Our area is still living in darkness. Nobody knows that we are living in such a condition. 12 children had died in my village and around my neighboring village, around 40 children had died. Food grains had destroyed by rats and insects. And due to the climatic condition where there is no rainfall, we don't have proper crop and anything to eat because there is no supply. We don't have any nearest market in Myanmar. It takes a week to go and the get the food grains from Myanmar market," added Angyo Kaishan, one of the Beneficiaries. "Yes, we are living in interior parts of jungle, so that's why we are getting malaria. At the same time, every year we are facing famine like situation as well as sickness. Thanks to NFD for providing a relief materials and May God bless them," added Tolong Peter, another Beneficiary. The initiative was executed under the advice and logistic support from various organizations such as the Eastern Nagaland People Organisation (ENPO), Eastern Nagaland Students' Federation (ENSF), Khiamniungan Tribal Council and Khiamniungan Baptist Council of Noklak. Eastern Naga Students' Association, a student body of the Naga from Myanmar in India and the Ollo Baptist Church and the Konyak Union and the Konyak Baptist Church Association took up the same responsibility of logistic support and mobilisation along with EMSA executive in Laju-Arunachal Pradesh and Longwa in Mon district of Nagaland. The materials provided might be temporary relief materials. But such noble acts help build a stronger relationship amongst them. It also promotes communal harmony and sends out a strong message of unity to the rest of the world. (ANI)