Duties and Responsibilities

Witoubou Newmai

What happens when the jealous talks of one’s own rights and freedom in a given domain fails to inspire a sense of responsibilities and duties? In other words, the sense of responsibilities and duties also comes from the sound knowledge about one’s own rights. Absence of such a sense of responsibilities and duties is only a dishonor to one’s own domain, which, in turn, disqualifies anyone who broaches lofty ideas about rights.


Lack of the sense of responsibilities and duties to their surroundings says it all about any society. What does it say of a society which is overwhelmed by the plethora of issues including garbage management, mosquito borne diseases, clogged drainage system, et cetera? This is because the sound management mechanism on issues related to one’s surroundings is always a good index about the level of any society.


No less importantly, lacking the sound sense of responsibilities and duties can also mean, in a way, not feeling right to do the right things.


In a time when people ask about actions, paying little or no attention to rhetorical discourses, the kind of ‘Swachh Survekshan 2018 survey report’ should be an item enough to stimulate the people.


The State of Nagaland was among the dirtiest states in India, according to the ‘Swachh Survekshan 2018 survey report’. The cleanliness survey was carried out last year by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.


Lack of the sense of responsibilities has given rise to more serious issues such as about the fast depleting forest cover, dying of streams or rivers, pest invasion and dwindling number of birds and wild animals in the lands of the Nagas—all about the going down of the eco-system. Though some of the issues are effects of climate change in the global context, but that should never be the cover-up or pretext for disservice or to lay inert in the comforts of lethargy.


Given the reality, the Nagas need to consider what kind of society they want to have. This question is raised because the failure of the Nagas to raise a collective concern about the ailing eco-system or their surroundings has already led them to skate on thin ice.


The discourse such as this should not be considered too demanding. One can no longer afford to make one’s interests to compete with the priority on the environmental issues. The strength of the Nagas will become their weakness when priorities are mixed up. The Naga society has had enough of placing convenience as priorities. It is time to consider that the Nagas take their responsibilities and duties seriously and also make every effort to have an integrated vision on their environment.