Kohima: Nagaland Minister of Roads and Bridges, G Kaito Aye, told the people of Satakha to leave past conflicts behind and strive for regional progress. He spoke on November 13 at the Satakha Public Ground during the 17th edition of the Satakha Area Sports and Cultural Association, or SASCA, Ahuna-cum-cultural competition. The event brought the community together. Aye noted he has attended this event 16 times, witnessing clear improvements in sports and cultural activities over the years.
The minister urged local leaders and residents to act as guardians for the area. He pushed for a unified identity rather than division by ranges or units. He noted that the region still feels the sting of past insurgency. "If Satakha progresses, its people progress; and if the people progress, Satakha and the Sümi community progress," Aye said. He requested that the Kukamis, or village chiefs, take on more responsibility in promoting local culture.
Infrastructure projects remain in the pipeline for the region. Aye asked for public cooperation to ensure these developments reach the grassroots. He also encouraged the promotion of the traditional Sümi practice of cooking Ahuna rice in bamboo. Participants should have equal chances to compete from the village level all the way to state levels. He also demanded that citizens keep their villages clean, promote civic sense, and organize regular cleanliness drives.
SASCA President Er Beto T Jimo noted a significant shift this year. Residents from the Satoi Range, Langki Kiliki Tokukujo, and the Satakha area joined together for the first time. This joint celebration aligns with the minister's vision for shared goals. The program featured performances from Khukiye Lukhai and other groups, with Atoke Naga and Ilokali H Zhimomi chairing the event.
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