Naga Youth (The Sikkim Earthquake Relief) to help Sikkim Earthquake victims

Dimapur | September 28 : Donations are being collected from Nagas in Dimapur, Kohima, and as far as Delhi. No this “donations” are willingly given and for a cause. The Sikkim Earthquake Relief - Nagas Care (which begun on Facebook) has managed to bring out a caring nature especially from the youths.
It all begun when members of “The Naga Blog” and “Nagaland.Open.Online.Barter or Sell (N.O.O.B.S.)” decided to help the people of Sikkim who are currently going through one of the worst natural calamity to strike our region in this generation. The groups are appealing to every thoughtful Naga to donate a sum of just Rs.100/- to the cause and help in raising a small amount which people from Nagaland can contribute to the people of Sikkim through Baichung Bhutia.
Interacting with The Morung Express, Yan Kikon, who created The Naga Blog in 2007 insists that he is not any sort of “social worker” and is just a nerdy electronics engineer working for a British company. Yet still, his initiative has sparked a campaign that’s spreading like wild fire in the hills. Yan says that members of The Naga Blog on a popular social networking site were discussing about the recent earthquake which hit our region and caused widespread devastation in Sikkim. 
But it was the offhand remark of an active blogger and administrator Peter Rutsa which really sparked the campaign. He says that the 6000 plus blog members were pouring in their ideas and thoughts as to what if a similar earthquake struck Nagaland. In the midst of all the discussion a member came forward and asked “What about we Naga blog members contributing something to them. Just a suggestion.” So taking all these feedbacks into consideration, he got in touch with few friends and who agreed on creating an online campaign where they could invite friends and family to contribute Rs.100/- each and join our hands to pray for Sikkim and its people.
One of the main aims of the cause is also to create awareness to the people to kick off disaster management initiatives in Nagaland.  “In our country, when you look back at the terrorist attacks, natural disasters, flood etc precaution is taken only after the disaster! “Precaution itself turned into the worst oxymoron. This online campaign to raise funds for one of the worst natural calamity to strike the region in our generation is itself an awareness programme”.
The young man also appreciated The Morung Express in joining hands with The Naga Blog and N.O.O.B.S. to help the cause as the plan is to feature a poster of the campaign in the papers. “This is just a small initiative, a small step towards spreading awareness about the destructive power of such an unpredictable natural cataclysm. We also need to educate our people not only in Kohima and Dimapur but also in other districts by involving NGO’s to spread messages like “Earthquakes can never be predicted. It can strike anytime” because apparently some prayer people infuse fear psychosis in our people by predicting earthquakes and deaths. In addition, disaster management drills and workshops can be arranged not to scare the public but prepare them in advance and learn from the devastation which befell our neighbour. Pray and donate for the people of Sikkim and show them that Nagas care” he says.
Yan also says that he is flooded with questions on why only Rs 100 and not more than that. With a touch of humour, he says that our Naga style of collecting donations is like “Mon khushi para didbi. Kiman dibole mon jai, khushi ase”. He says that there is a deeper meaning and reason behind encouraging donors to contribute only Rs.100 and not more than.  “No donor will feel more privileged than the other because every single member will shoulder the same level of responsibility and power. Be it a Minister or a school student, a pan shop owner or a rich contractor, each of them donates only Rs 100/-. Everyone’s contribution to the cause is equal without a rich donor shadowing the rest,” he reasons. The concept of class, caste and reservation was alien to us Nagas. We were all equal; there was no backward tribe, advanced tribe, high class or middle class. This class/caste/backward/advanced system was introduced in our society by the Indian government.
Reacting to the success of his campaign, Yan also feels that with the advent of social networking, Nagas from all corners of the world have come together and formed this sort of new virtual society in groups such as N.O.O.B.S (Nagaland Online Open Barter or Sell) and The Naga Blog. He reveals that one would find Naga professionals from around the globe coming together under one platform to share their concerns, thoughts and ideas with dreams to build a better Nagaland for our generation. “My point is, the new Naga generation is more united and connected compared to our older generation who created all the ‘isms’ with Tribalism as the greatest evil of them all. The new Naga generation yearns for a developed and united Nagaland free from ‘isms’. Blogs and events such as this brings us together to join hands and work for a good cause and not as this tribe and that tribe but together as “Nagas”.”
Michael Angami, a member of The Naga Blog comments that the initiative is a way of showing the unfortunate victim of the recent earthquake that people in their neighbouring state do remembers them and are ready to help them in their own capacity, though it may not be that significant.
Another member, Menuolhoulie Kire says that besides helping ease the pain in Sikkim, he sees the event helps in promoting equality as we are all equally giving only 100 bucks ...rich, poor, old, young, educated, uneducated, employed ,unemployed, man, woman. Secondly, Camaraderie: transforming our online relation and trusts into reality. Thirdly, Logistics: Using our NOOBS contact points and testing them on a large scale which can become a real reliable network for future.
The money hasn’t even exchanged hands. But the people of Sikkim are already feeling the Care. As Rigzing Choden Dadul Wazalingpa from Sikkim posted: “Thanks a lot guys. Means a lot. Shall spread the news to my fellow Sikkimese people. God bless.”
At last count the page had 1,406 invitations accepting the cause! The fund is on until September 30. 

Courtesy-(MExN)