IS NAGA SOCIETY DOING ENOUGH TO CREATE, DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN ITS DEMOCRATIC CULTURE?

Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• Yes, to some extent you can see young people trying to change our society and to introduce a democratic culture.
• Yes, only for some people. This is so evident, everywhere you go, you see the politicians, bureaucrats, contractors and so-called the elites of the society who seem to be enjoying more rights than the rest of the people. So these powers that be are creating, developing and strengthening a democratic culture in a bubble. They live in this make believe world and one day someone is going to prick and burst their bubble.
• Situation has greatly improved over the last few years. Now at least you seem some freedom of expression and other democratic values which were not even imagined when the political situation and insurgency was at its heights.
• Yes, this is the only way forward for the Nagas.
• Yes, the people want change and want democracy, but without good visionary leadership we are going now where. It is only getting worse by the day.

Some of those who voted NO had this to say:

• No way, what kind of democratic culture are we creating when we do not even have a woman MLA. Unless there are equal rights for Naga women also, there can be no democracy. It is utterly shameful.
• No, most of the people are just trying to meet the most rudimentary needs required for their survival. They don’t have time for anything else. The state of affairs is pitiful. It will be wrong to expect too much from the people when they are barely just making it.
• No, not ever when we see our situation. If we do not realize that we Nagas are one and only one over Naga inhabited areas …..
• No, unity is absent among de nagas
• No. how can we, when every men is a king, every government employer can hold the public to bribe. when the police break the law.
• Our Naga elders keep harping that Nagas follow a democratic system. This may be true to an extent as far as participation is concerned, but we sure do not follow a democratic culture of living.
• When there is so much of tribalism, factionalism, nepotism and corruption in our society there is no room for democratic culture. Everyone is thinking only for themselves. No one seems to be interested in the common good of all the people. We have become very selfish and self-centered.
• Naga traditional society was democratic, but now it has become autocratic, bureaucratic and theocratic. There is no room for democratic culture.  
• The present set of leaders whether overground or underground are too selfish. They don’t realize that their time is up. They were given the chance to lead the people and the opportunity was there for them to prove themselves. Now, they should hand over their power to the younger generation. Only then things will begin to improve. Otherwise, we are all dying a slow death.

Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:

• This is a very important question, but at the same time it is rather premature. We the public are not ready and prepared to answer such questions because we do not have the luxuries required to create, develop and strengthen a democratic culture in our state.
• Naga people are still in the developing stage, its too early to come to any conclusion.
• Nagaland is slowly becoming like one of those middle age kingdoms which was ruled by the royal family and the aristocracy. The politicians are behaving like royalty and acting as if the law does not apply to them. Same goes for the bureaucrats who think that they hold the actual power of the kingdom. This kind of mentality will never allow the Nagas to become democratic.
• Democracy is still a long way to go. There is so much to do, but we just don’t know where to start. It is overwhelming. It is heartbreaking to see how society crumbling right before your eyes.