Dr Asangba Tzüdir
Will the campaign bugle go beyond the hurtful rhetorics?
The various election campaign manifestos revolving around the promise to bring change, to give a new vision and hope for Nagaland only induces a sense of ironic gloom. The state of affairs for the last many years, created through a government that can be profoundly termed as a ‘anti-human’ institution has offered such a firm testament that talks about hope and change for better quickly dissipates. To cite an instance, only a ‘anti-human’ institution can have the audacity to use water cannons on teachers demanding their salary. Having no ‘substance’ to substantiate their promise to bring change only makes it difficult for people to dispel the skepticism about the promise to transform Nagaland. Campaign speeches may be delivered by ‘them’ with a kind of hope for the people and where possibility seems to have encountered feasibility. But a vision, hope and change without ‘form’ and ‘content’ does not count for a policy that cannot be trusted. For now the people are fed with policies without a concrete roadmap; the promise for change without a developmental model; a vision that disappears before the utterance of the word itself. As a footnote, even the ‘comically’ dedicatory election songs doing rounds in social media, fails to appeal to the human heart, not that it is ‘melodious’ either. Thus, on the whole, their tall claims can be likened to what can be politically considered as a ‘good health care package’ consisting of a saline drip and an antibiotic injection to treat cancer.
Therefore, inorder to dispel the skepticism and restore belief, the politicians and the parties should go beyond the politics of engaging in populist, please-all socio-economic rhetorics, and sincerely formulate the various policies and visions to take Nagaland forward.
Policy matters especially where the policy concerns are overwhelming. What are the immediate policies and measures that can be set in place to stop the climate of systemic and institutional corruption that is flourishing and has affected all aspects of life? Roads being the lifeline to connectivity and economic development, the people of Nagaland rather wants to know the practical steps to address the deplorable condition of roads and bridges.
The number of Unemployed youths in the state is a major cause of concern, which only aggravates the economic dependency syndrome. On the one hand youth resources in terms of skills have not been fully tapped while on the other, the absence of infrastructure, especially sports infrastructure does not help the cause of unemployment problems. This is another important aspect which requires concrete policy intervention. How many youths are being targetted to skill them in various fields? What alternatives are being envisioned to address the issue of unemployment? These are serious concerns where concrete policies in terms of facts and hard figures needs to be developed.
Further, what policies can be set in place to tap both human and natural resources in building a sustainable economic growth towards a shift from the economic dependency syndrome? For now, locating Nagaland in the ASEAN map, while most of the states in the Northeast moves forward, Nagaland seems to be going backwards in time and therefore continues to be the ‘chicken neck’ of disconnect with the Northeast India.
The promise for justice and equality cannot be translated into reality unless there is gender parity and therefore the need for policies on gender budgeting and also creating the necessary spaces for women in policy and decision making.
An important aspect of improving quality of life is health care. Sadly, health care delivery continues to be neglected especially in the rural areas. As such, concrete policies are required to address the inequalities and that quality healthcare becomes accessible to everyone. On the other hand, many people from the state have to travel outside for medical treatment for health conditions that should be treated within the state. This also needs to be seen in the light of growing number of diseases, so also economising healthcare costs.
There is more to it and if Nagaland is to change and transform, policies have to be in place to serve as a roadmap and also to provide a reality check on the state of corrupt affairs. For sure, when we have a responsible government, only then can it win the trust, confidence and the unflinching support of the people.
As the election campaign bugle grows louder, there are apparent doubts of it ending in hurtful rhetorics. But people are listening and a time will soon come to distinguish between rhetorics and truth.
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir writes a weekly guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
