DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 15 (MExN): Student unions and organizations have condemned the controversial remark made by Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change, and Village Guards, CL John over the animal-human conflict in Wokha district during the 14th session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on September 12. The Minister has issued an unconditional apology over the insensitive remarks since then.
The Lotha Students' Union (LSU) said the callous remark by the Minister not only “lacks empathy for the victims' families but also reflects a profound disconnect from the ground realities of the situation.”
It invited CL John to visit Wokha District and Bhandari Sub-Division to witness the situation first hand by immersing himself in the challenges faced by the people and understanding the gravity of the elephant-human conflict in order to gain a more accurate perspective.
Stating it as imperative that only responsible and qualified individuals should hold positions of power and influence, especially in matters concerning the environment and the well-being of our citizens, the LSU said the people of Wokha district and all right-thinking citizens expect better from their elected representatives.
The LSU also suggested that the Minister think of alternative steps that can be employed by the state department such acoustic and visual mechanisms, fences and barriers, early warning and detection systems safeguarding elephant corridors, changing human attitudes towards elephants, as well as ensuring the conservation of forest areas from illegal encroachments by humans.
The Kohima Lotha Students Union (KLSU), while condemning the remark made by CL John, said it not only exhibit a lack of compassion for the families of the victims but also underscore a “pronounced disconnect from the on-ground realities of the prevailing situation.”
It also extended an invitation to the Minister to undertake a visit of Wokha sistrict and the Bhandari sub division to acquire firsthand understanding of the situation. Through immersion in the challenges faced by the populace and a comprehensive grasp of the seriousness of the human-elephant conflict, it is anticipated that he may attain a more precise perspective, it stated.
The Tiyi Wildlife Conservation and Animal-Human Conflict Control Society (TWC & A-HCCS) Wokha said the “frivolous connotation of words” on the floor of the NLA has deeply hurt the sentiments of the victims’ families caused by animal-human conflicts in Wokha district.
The TWC& A-HCCS said it has been mitigating issues relating to animal-human conflicts in the district for the last 9 years and working for peaceful co-existence to bring an end between the elephant menace. It said the farmers have been deeply discouraged by his brutal remarks.
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