Helping hand across borders - Mokokchung group organises concert for Jorhat flood-hit

Members of the group hand over a cheque to Jorhat deputy commissioner Virendra Mittal on Sunday. Picture by UB Photos

Wasim Rahman, TT, Jorhat, Aug. 14: Calamities - be it natural or man-made - bring people closer.

In a gesture of goodwill, a voluntary group from neighbouring Mokokchung district in Nagaland handed over money collected from a music concert organised in the aid of Jorhat flood victims in Mokokchung town last month, to Jorhat deputy commissioner Virendra Mittal at his official bungalow today.

The assistance assumes significance as both Assam and Nagaland have been in conflict since Nagaland was carved out from Assam in 1963. Both the districts are a part of the border dispute as well and have witnessed clashes.

Despite a strained relationship between the states and these two particular districts, there have been efforts by the both sides at the civil-society level to have better people-to-people contact.

I Love Mokokchung, a group formed in 2010, took the initiative to organise a concert on July 16 to contribute to the flood-hit people of Jorhat.

A delegation from the group, accompanied by two members from the Border Peace Coordination Committee (Assam-Nagaland), a platform formed in 2005 with representatives from both sides of the border, today handed over a Rs 1.12 lakh cheque to Mittal.

Adang Jamir, who led the group, told The Telegraph that the idea came up when their members proposed "to do something" to help the flood-hit people of Jorhat.

One of the members suggested organising a musical programme.

The initiative - Touch Jorhat: Know Thy Neighbour - was supported by the Mokokchung residents with over 30 singers and musicians agreeing to perform free at the event held inside a Mokokchung shopping mall.

He said the concert, which was open to all, was attended by a large number of people who donated generously towards the cause.

Longrangthy Longchar, another member of the group, said they hoped their "little sincere" step would go a long way in fostering warm ties between both the districts.

Mittal, who was presented a traditional waistcoat of the Ao Naga tribe by the group, said, "It is a very good endeavour by our neighbours, which I hope will contribute in opening a new chapter in the bilateral relationship among both sides."

The deputy commissioner said the administration apart from the official level engagement with the Mokokchung side, would support more such efforts at the civil society level to boost ties.

Temsu Wathi Ao, the co-ordinator of the border peace committee and the Mokokchung district informatics officer and Jayanta Baruah, another member and a Jorhat Municipal Board ward commissioner, also hoped the initiative would contribute to the strengthening of ties.

About two lakh people were affected and about 25 relief camps were set up to provide shelter to the flood victims. Most of the camps were in Majuli followed by Jorhat west, east, Teok revenue circles and two in Titabar subdivision.