Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | May 20
If Nagaland state is not developing- with its proxy teachers, backdoor appointments, poor health care, deplorable road conditions, unemployment, etc- the Sumi Kiphimi Kukhalu (SKK), which is the apex body of all Sumi Students’ Union has recognized that whatever problem the state is facing is because of “corruption” and that, the root cause of corruption in Nagaland is the “Election System”.
With the state general elections close at hand, the SKK, led by its 29-year old president, Ninoto Awomi, has taken a bold step by extensively initiating the ‘Clean Election Campaign’ in Zunheboto district that comprises of 7 constituencies and 17 ranges. In terms of expenditure, the district figures as one of the highest, having spent an approximate amount of Rs. 166 Crore during the 2013 elections that saw a huge jump from Rs. 89 Crore in the 2008 elections. The state expenditure was estimated to be about Rs. 938 Crore during the 2013 elections, almost twice the amount of Rs. 569 Crore in the 2008 elections.
While many people also view students’ unions across the state to be politically motivated in one way or the other, the SKK has gone all out to ensure that the clean election campaign is strictly implemented in the district in the forthcoming general elections and officially kicked off the campaign on 12th April this year in the district headquarter.
To work towards the conduct of clean election in all Sumi inhabited areas is an agenda under “Mission Achipiu Mlahnnani” (Mission Doing Right) of SKK which was launched in October 2016 with four main agendas that also include ban on proxy teachers, to work towards clean and sincere execution of public offices & institutions, to see that all contract works were carried out under right specifications and implemented accordingly in all Sumi inhabited areas. The Sumi Hoho during its general conference on February 11 has also endorsed SKK to spearhead the ‘Clean Election Campaign’ in Zunheboto district and Sumi inhabited areas.
Speaking to The Morung Express, Hekani Jakhalu, who is a member of the Coordination Committee of the SKK Mission while reiterating that the root cause of corruption in Nagaland is the election system, asserted that in order to tackle corruption, “we have to start with the basics and make an intervention in the election system.” She specifically stated that the campaign is a “people’s movement” wherein they themselves are coming forward to give financial assistance. “So, we are doing this with crowd funding. We are not taking any money from politicians or ministers and every public who thinks and feels that this is a good campaign and is important and feels for it, we are open to it even if it’s one rupee or 10,000, 1 lac, 10 lacs or whatever”, she said.
Substantiating to this, she added, “people are also asking this is a campaign and you are taking contribution but if you want to run a campaign professionally, money has to be involved and we want it to be crowd funded.” Interestingly, politicians themselves want to contribute towards the campaign as it also means less expenditure for them during the elections. However, the Committee is clear on making it a crowd funded campaign.
Taking forward their mission on Clean Election, the group had already gone to all the 7 constituencies for consultation with all the local community leaders and has also conducted a public rally primarily to ignite and start the awareness process as the first and second phase respectively. Talking about the response from the public, Hekani Jakhalu said, “Everyone is really excited and happy although they have their own apprehensions stating ‘you can’t have the change overnight’”. In the third phase, core implementing committee is being set up in all the 17 ranges and at the village level, while asserting that “at the end of the day, it’s about implementation.”
She further said that under this campaign, many sub committees such as research, media, funding/finance, resolution drafting, etc have been formed since a campaign like this needs a deep thinking strategy. Using different mediums to raise awareness for the Clean Election Campaign, a theme song was also composed by Alobo Naga. A leadership workshop will further be held in June at Tuophema village wherein about 70 youth leaders are expected to converge together and be empowered on leadership skills and qualities in collaboration with Youth Net.
Hekani Jakhalu also felt that whatever was sown under the NBCC Clean Election Campaign made rooms and prepared them to carry it forward more extensively. “I really feel this is going to work but this one has to work like a wildfire”, she said.
She went on to add that “people are really forthcoming…we are explaining to them about this vicious cycle we are stuck in. When an MLA takes his position, the first thing he does is to make sure he is recovering his money and our development work is compromised. People are frustrated; they are not able to earn their livelihood. When there is no economy that person is so frustrated and so when villagers and voters take money during elections, they have no sense of guilt but feel it is their right.”
Emphasizing on the need to break this vicious circle, get out of it and see how corruption is affecting us, she is hopeful that the campaign is going to bring some change as it is also being planned and implemented systematically and strategically.
It may be mentioned here that a group of young professionals who are experts in their own fields are part of the coordination committee and include Hekani Jakhalu, Joshua Sheqi, Akanito Assumi, Kitoho Rotokha, Jonah Achumi, Vitoka Aye, Inakali Aye, Alobo Naga, Betoka Swu, Jackto Wotsa, Kakheto Jakhalu, Vikyeto Noel, Abokali Zhimo and Tomtsa Chishi.
The 11 point resolution adopted on April 12, 2017 during the kick off rally at Zunheboto
1. No political camps will be allowed to set up in colonies, village and towns 2. Use of intoxicants such as alcohol and drugs will be strictly prohibited
3. No political parties and candidates should involve national workers to use arms and threaten voters for their selfish agendas
4. Will not solicit or give away cash/kind or offer jobs or commit such promises for selling or buying votes
5. Will not allow booth capturing or cast any proxy vote or multiple casting or impersonate any other person in any way or knowingly allow anyone to cast his/her vote on behalf of all the family members. Booth Level Officer (BLO) will not distribute proxy cards
6. No collective decisions will be made by clans, khels and villages to cast for a candidate
7. Community/Election feasting will be prohibited
8. Organize common platform for intending candidates to persuade voters democratically
9. All the candidates shall sign a declaratory pledge to uphold the clean election resolution
10. Core committee shall be set up in all the booth/village/constituency level and on the voting day the core committee(s) shall implement the adopted resolutions 11. Violations of any of the adopted resolutions shall be reported to the competent authority for punitive action as per the Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of Peoples’ Act 1951.
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