1 year of PDA Government in retrospect
“Well begun is half-done,” noted Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in the compendium of ‘One year of People’s Democratic Alliance Government in Nagaland’ sanguinely titled as, Road to Peace, Progress & Development.
Incidentally, the compendium highlighting the key initiatives of the government was launched at a private PDA event on March 2, before it was made publically available on March 10.
At a thanksgiving service on completion of one year of PDA on March 10 in Kohima, Rio reiterated that the government is committed to bringing change as promised in its manifesto.
His introductory note on the PDA’s compendium pompously titled, ‘Change Is Here,’ stated that it is a snapshot of the ‘steps taken and initiative made’ towards making Nagaland a better place, particularly for the children and youth.
In an apparent attempt to thwart any concerns regarding the achievements or otherwise, Rio said there is a ‘lot more that needs to be done’ and emphasised on inculcating a mindset of positivity, to bring about ‘Real Change.’
His concerns are valid. A year ago, a freshly installed PDA government, in a rare departure, announced a slew of grand developmental promises with great gusto, with intrepid deadlines. Attached with the pledges were 100-day deadline tempered with glib assurances to be implemented towards improving governance & transparency, roads, students and youth welfare, infrastructure and connectivity.
Most daringly, the road deadline was set at 60 days of power. The Morung Express assestment on June 16, 2018 coinciding with the 100-day reflected that most pledges were mostly in ‘Words, not Deeds.’ Several excuses, particularly, the ominous monsoon as well as ‘normal procedural delay’ were cited as reasons.
When PDA turned 1 on March 8, a revisit to the promises it made in March 2018 and their present statuses, more or less had similar results reflected during the 100-day review. The achievements were mostly rhetorical or completion of works under progress, while there were no substantive achievements on the specific targets.
However, the ‘report card’ released by the PDA Government, running over 164 pages, has listed several ‘achievements’ made by 60 government departments and agencies, and sought to answer some pertinent concerns.
A preliminary reading of the report, however, is akin to reading an annual administrative report of a department. No substantial achievement but a listing of the concerned department’s usual activities over the past year. In other words, a normal report of the departments which they are expected to undertake at any given period, notwithstanding the change of guard at top politically.
The critical assessment is neither to convey the message that the present government is doing nothing for the welfare of the people, nor it is an indictment of gross inactivity. The declaration of the deadline, albeit cynicism from various quarters, was itself a bold decision and appear to put across a notion the government is neither afraid or nor above criticism.
The reviews were done as a reminder to the government not conveniently forgot the promises made and depend on collective amnesia to evade public scrutiny. Along with self-assessment, a constant critical inspection of policies and achievements will pave a long way in generating a government, which is accountable and dependable both on ‘words and deeds.’
