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.