Ao officers from across Nagaland and beyond came together in Mokokchung on September 13 to launch the Ao Officers’ Telungjem, a unified forum aiming to guide their community’s future. Over 650 officers attended the landmark first conference at Town Hall under Ao Senden’s patronage, where they adopted the “Viksit Mokokchung 2047” resolution. The gathering committed to a truthful Ao community census, preserving the language, and addressing urgent challenges like high youth unemployment.
Building a unified officers’ forum
Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkümer urged officers to take charge of their responsibilities and to initiate an accurate Ao citizen count, starting from the church level with the involvement of the Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang. He emphasised that accurate data was crucial for ensuring fair representation and better planning.
Nagaland Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen told officers that while forming a forum was simple, their true test lay in delivering tangible results. Calling them the most privileged group in society, he pressed for leadership in tackling social, economic, and political challenges.
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Ao Senden president Marsanen Imsong described the conference as a “new sunrise” and called for sincere delivery in health and education so that no family suffered due to shortages. The event’s theme “Kü Lima, Kü Khu” (My Land, My Duty) underscored the need for dedicated service to the community, stressing responsibility, accountability, and honesty in every initiative.
A roadmap for skills and opportunities
Theme speaker Dr. Sentitula laid down five principles for the forum: belonging, leadership, preservation of oral history, service through witness, and transcending challenges with integrity. She coupled these ideas with practical strategies, including establishing a global centre of excellence, creating digital platforms, hosting leadership summits, and encouraging village-based start-ups with at least two members from each community.
The officers resolved to introduce mentorship programmes and free coaching for competitive examinations guided by former civil servants. creating such opportunities at the local level, the forum aims to stem youth migration and help reverse high unemployment. A vast network of Ao officers within India’s civil services, defence, and public sector units was showcased as a ready pool of expertise.
Joint Secretary Asangba Chuba Ao highlighted how quickly the initiative had gained traction, connecting with more than 100 officers across India and abroad within a week through social media. These included 20 who had cleared civil services exams, 40 working in oil and gas companies, and 15 serving as lieutenant colonels or above in the defence services.
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Why the formation is crucial now
The formation of Ao Officers’ Telungjem addressed a long-felt need to unify officers from Kohima, Mokokchung, and Dimapur zones under one accountable forum guided by Ao Senden. committing to the Viksit Mokokchung 2047 resolution, the officers placed measurable goals at the forefront, including a truthful census, language preservation, and job creation.
The Ao community has historically counted on its officers as pioneers, from the earliest missionaries to the first administrators. This new forum seeks to go beyond symbolic gestures, pressing officers to transform their privilege into public value.
Key priorities mapped out include bolstering Ao Reju’s language preservation efforts, setting up trust funds for exam coaching, and harnessing technology to drive rural development initiatives.
