“Things are changing rapidly, and for good. We, the younger people, are now aiming at drawing maximum benefits from the Look-East Policy that the Government is pursuing,” says Yanger Pongen, who is into manufacturing furniture and other articles with bamboo that grows abundantly in the area.

Equally optimistic is Imchawati Kichu, managing director of Care and Support Society, an NGO working in the field of HIV/AIDS in Mokokchung that is celebrating its golden jubilee this week. “We are working among young people to prevent HIV/AIDS. We have to get ready to reap the economic benefits of the Look East Policy, as we are located close to Myanmar,” said Kichu.

Mokokchung, in fact, is a small district of about 1615 square kilometres area. Strategically located between an oil-rich district and a tea-growing one of Upper Assam, it is looking forward to become a bridge between Assam and South East Asia in the years to come.

“Mokukchung can become the shortest and most viable link between Upper Assam and Myanmar. Keeping this and the country’s Look East Policy in mind, we are preparing a Vision-2050 document for the district,” said Alemtemshi Jamir, a senior IAS officer of the state who also hails from this district.

Lask week, when a grand cultural function to mark the district’s golden jubilee was organised in Mokukchung, the state Government brought Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Commerce, as the chief guest. At the meeting, Ramesh too spoke at length about the benefits of the Look East Policy.

The Government of India has already announced a Rs 600-crore package to revive the 66,000 tonne capacity paper mill at Tuli in the district, while ITC has signed an MoU with Spices Board and the state Government to promote, purchase and market organic chilli, ginger, turmeric and black pepper grown here.

“Young people in Mokukchung, or for that matter in the entire state, are no longer influenced or attracted by insurgency. Instead they are more futuristic and practical today, looking at building careers by acquiring good education,” pointed out Kuholi Chishi, vice-principal of Fazal Ali College here, the oldest college in Nagaland. “The mindset of younger generation is different, and Mokukchung has already seen a new set of Naga entrepreneurs emerging, as the gun culture is beginning to fade out,” she added.

With changing times, Mokukchung’s connectivity is also improving. Though the two National Highways linking this district to Kohima and Jorhat continue to be zig-zag and difficult due to the hilly terrain, from this week, it has got a daily helicopter service to Kohima and Dimapur.