Morung Poll results point to Nagaland as ‘failed state’

Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 24  

People who took part in a poll recently have declared Nagaland a ‘failed state’. In a Morung Express Poll conducted through the last week, maximum number of respondents dubbed Nagaland state a dysfunctional one.  

The Morung Express Poll asked the question ‘Do you think that Nagaland is a failed state?’ To this, a whopping 70% of the respondents opted for YES, while 10% said NO and a further 20% found sense in the category OTHERS. “Nagaland is a failure because there are no avenues for progress, it is a failed state because from church leaders to politicians and common people alike all are corrupted from the core,” noted one responded in the YES category.  

Another respondent described what a ‘very sick state’, and perhaps a ‘failed state’, looks like. “Government mismanagement and corruption, deficiency of basic infrastructures (specially roads), absence of law and order and declining public moral standards (fuel adulteration, unethical butchers, politicians lying about their education - etc.,), rising unemployment, unproductive local economy, poor relation with neighbouring states, lack of inspiring leadership and visionless society, tribalistic mentality with increasing inter-tribal animosity, and a general public apathy to all social ills.”  

Noting that there is “no vision or integrity” in the State’s leadership, people felt that one of the reasons for this is that the State Government is a “puppet” government—at times pandering to Indian politicians, and other times to Naga national groups.  

While some felt for the need of a “new leader… with a sincere and undiluted vision and one who upholds the truth,” others remained skeptical. They felt that given all these years of Nagaland’s statehood, the younger generation has become “hypocrite keyboard warriors” who remain distant from reality; so consumed by “branded outfits” that they have “lost their grounding” while the older generation has become “corrupted and shameless.”  

Another respondent stated what they felt could be the root cause of this failure: “The so called Nagaland state under Indian union was formed after ferocious threat, rampant killing, tortures and suppression… by Indian forces. The Nagas were forced to surrender regardless of their rightful consent and opinion to join the Indian union.”  

Among those who did not think that Nagaland can be termed a ‘failed state,’ one respondent compared the current situation to a “woman in birth pangs.”  

“Many including the legislators think this is a transitional period with a ray of hope for a better future for all including urban and rural citizens, far and near. It’s like a woman in birth pangs. Great care must be taken lest negligence and indifference cause the death of both the child and the 54 year old mother (Nagaland),” stated the respondent.

‘Nagaland has a reason to celebrate’

 Guwahati, July 24 (MExN): Despite the ‘fail’ report card, the North East Social Research Centre (NESRC) in Guwahati has now revealed that Nagaland may have a reason to celebrate afterall. A recently released report of a study has lauded the Government of Nagaland for allocating adequate funds for children, thus setting an example for other states to follow.  

This was informed in an article by Dr. Melvil Pereira, Director, NESRC, Guwahati.  

The report titled, Budget for Children in Nagaland 2015-16, noted: “Children in Nagaland have been allocated 13.14 percent share in the Nagaland State Budget 2015-16. This is much more than the share allocated by other North Eastern States like Meghalaya (4.53 %), Assam (5.57 %) and Tripura (2.68 %). It is heartening to note that the State has allocated a substantial share of its budget for children.”  

The report was prepared by HAQ: Centre for Child Rights, Delhi, and NESRC, Guwahati. The authors of the report observed that during the past years Nagaland has consistently allocated more funds for children than other states in Northeast India. The report appreciated the financial commitment on the part of Nagaland Government to the welfare of children, while also suggesting ways and means to strengthen the health of children who, in Nagaland, are also found often dropping out of school or hired as domestic labour.