Nagas are becoming very lazy, we depend too much on others for our survival, the window of opportunity has open for us through this COVID-19 pandemic crisis to become self-reliant from consuming to producing state stated Dy. Chief Minister of Nagaland, Y. Patton, while interacting with the public of Wozhuro Range in Wokha district of Nagaland on 22nd May.

Patton, who is also Minister-in-charge for Wokha district of Nagaland on COVID-19, visited Wozhuro range to take stock on the preparedness to contain COVID-19 crisis undertaken by the Primary Health Centre (PHC) and the area people.

Y. Patton said our state economy has been hit by this Coronavirus pandemic and we have to go back to our land like our forefathers who were hard labourers, we have to learn how to cultivate our land and take up farming as our profession if we are to sustain ourselves instead of depending on outside supplies for food.

Agriculture is the most important sector of our state economy and it is the process of utilizing the land for growing different varieties of crops, Patton said further stating that the state is in the process of establishing cold storage in all the 11 districts for marketing the surplus production within and outside the state.

On livestock production he said that due to the absence of large scale production in our state the state annually spends 250 crores outside the state and if our youth take up the opportunity to produce our own it will also minimize the state job crisis as 67% of our state is Government servant and it has come to a saturation point for the state government to provide job opportunity to all its citizens of the state, he added.

Wozhuro Range Public Organization (WRPO) submitted a representation on setting up of Police Outpost and Check Post and maintenance of Range approach road. In connection to the representation, the Deputy Chief Minister assured the people of the area that immediate necessary arrangement will be made at the earliest. Patton who also visited Chukitong Range later in the day apprised the people of the area that one police outpost at the locality will be placed as and when a strategic location is been identified.

After visiting Wozhuro and Chukitong Range, Y. Patton held a short meeting at the Deputy Commissioner conference hall, Wokha along with the members of District task force and civil societies to review the preparedness activities/level of the district.

Y. Patton was accompanied by Advisor for Horticulture Mhathung Yanthan, MLA Dr. Chumben Murry and DGP Nagaland T. John Longkumer.