Nagaland looks forward to peace and new opportunities in 2020
Photo Courtesy Fingerprint
Ashikho Pfuzhe
Dimapur | January 2
2019 was an eventful year for Nagaland state and the people at large in spheres including politics, religion, society and the economy. Moving along with the times, the state has made considerable progress in various fields and 2019 was no exception.
However, last year also ran its course along with uncompleted tasks, promises not kept and unfulfilled aspirations, with the state and its people stepping into an unpredictable new year but one filled with expectations of progress and development, prosperity and peace.
The Morung Express contacted some Naga citizens and personalities from different professions to gauge their mood and views on the preceding year as well as their expectations in the New Year.
Noted social and peace activist, Niketu Iralu, is of the view that without peace, oneness and reconciliation, a society cannot grow properly and fully in all fields of life and be happy.
“We long for Peace, Oneness and Reconciliation…But these desirable things do not just happen out of nothing. They require us to change radically in our selfishness, hates and fears. Changes in these passions and emotions result in healing of human relationships and birth of mutual trust, goodwill and cooperation”, he said.
According to Iralu, the roadblocks to Naga peace and reconciliation are lack of an adequate purpose and meaning of life in individuals which result in too many people thinking and living irresponsibly. He said everyone is equally responsible for the health and growth of society.
On expectations in the New Year, Iralu said “the seriousness of our deteriorating crisis will make us and our leaders to realise that if the boat on which we Nagas have set out on our journey as a people should sink no one wins.” On the brighter side, he observed that there are signs this realization has started and “we must reach out to one another and help and inspire one another to do what is right and needs to be done to take us forward.”
Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) President, Kekongchim T said the aspirations of the ENPO people are creation of a ‘Frontier Nagaland State’, maintain peace and unity among its populace in order and create a fertile society for the younger generation.
The ENPO president said the grievances of the ENPO people are various and put in a nutshell, “ENPO people don’t have the basic human needs for survival.” Kekongchim added that after several rounds of talks with the GoI, the Eastern Nagaland people have high expectations that their demand for a separate State would be fulfilled in the shortest possible time.
“New Year and new leadership will come and go, but the demand for Frontier Nagaland shall continue till the goal is achieved. The people of ENPO will celebrate the real New Year only after attainment of Frontier Nagaland”, he stated.
State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Diethono Nakhro, meanwhile stated that many a step forward was taken in 2019 in regard to welfare of PWDs such as notification of State Disability Rules, 4% reservation in government jobs, special courts to try and fast track cases of offences against PWDs. Diethono however feels that much more remains to be done and that these have to be aggressively followed up in 2020.
“Many of the guidelines and provisions of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act sadly remain on paper only. Inclusive education, accessibility in all public buildings and spaces, employment opportunities for PWDs, promotion of para-sports, provision of social security and various other disability services and so on and so forth- we are still zero level on all these and much more”, she said.
While appreciating the State government’s cooperation in all the encouraging developments of 2019, she stated that to ensure all the steps are taken to keep moving in the right direction, “what we urgently need is disability responsive budget in the new year. The State budget must demonstrate and reflect a commitment to give people with disabilities and their families a serious start to a life of inclusion and hope.”
Nagaland Baptist Church Council, President, Rev Dr Hukashe Zhimomi, felt that in the past couple of years, the country has witnessed an alarming increase in religion related violence and tensions. On issues confronting Nagas as Christians today, the NBCC president was of the view that many Naga Christians are in a confused state.
“We are pretending everything is okay when it is not. Our churches are sick but we don’t want to admit it. If we do not consider the seriousness of the crisis we are confronting, we will succumb to complacency and lose the meaning of our faith,” the NBCC president said.
On expectations of the people from the state government in the New Year, Rev Hukashe said the people expect good governance and to fulfill the mandate for which the legislators had been elected, to lead the people with a sense of accountability and, to expedite the Indo-Naga political issue on a priority basis.
For the opposition Naga People’s Front which suffered a ‘year ender’ jolt with its two party MPs defying party directives to vote in favour of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, the challenges ahead are immense, according to NPF spokesperson, Achumbemo Kikon.
“The challenges of the NPF is immense as it is the oldest regional political party in the North East and as such, apart from asserting and voicing out the rights of the Nagas, it has the moral responsibility to shoulder and voice out for the entire indigenous people of the NE”, Kikon said.
He meanwhile stated that the party will never compromise on the CAB/CAA issue and that the party in no way endorsed the decision of the two NPF MPs in supporting the CAB/CAA.
“The expectation of the NPF in 2020 is honourable solution of the Naga Political issue and hope that real peace and understanding amongst the Nagas will usher in. NPF also hope that with the dawn of the New Year 2020, the neighbouring communities will show magnanimity in resolving the protracted Naga political issue”, Kikon said.
Meanwhile, Alemjungla Jamir, proprietor, Naga Bowl Express, a restaurant specialized in traditional Naga cuisine, believes that entrepreneurship has started taking roots among the Naga youth and this trend would continue to grow in the days to come.
“However, the obstacles and problems faced by Naga entrepreneurs are monolithic and numerous. They range from severe lack of basic infrastructure & communication to a highly rigid and inflexible environment and market”, Jamir said.
She viewed that the State government can help alleviate this by creating a dedicated Department of Entrepreneurship to facilitate and ease the procedures and for early redressal of issues and problems.
“As the year draws to an end I am hopeful that the New Year will bring in new opportunities and Naga entrepreneurship will grow to newer heights”, she added.
