After a prolonged silence spanning over many years the Government of Nagaland has finally decided to make its assertion on matters of governance. In the latest notification issued on September 8, 2011 the Government of Nagaland has cautioned civil society including students’ organizations pointing out that independent ‘non-local registration drives and issuing identity cards by realizing certain fees’ encroaches into the legal jurisdiction of district administrations and the police. Issued by the Chief Secretary of Nagaland Lalthara, the government’s notice said only the district magistrates/deputy commissioners are empowered to issue Inner Line Permits to non-locals. How seriously people will take this notification or rather how serious our government is with such a directive, it will be interesting to see in the days ahead. The very credibility of our government is often doubted because they are no longer the epitome of authority that it is actually meant to be—seeking obedience of its subjects, performing its duty of providing security and order, its justice dispensing role, providing various services and welfare measures and ensuring the greatest good of the greatest number.
So in fact the incompetence of our governments is best reflected in the way non-state actors such as the student bodies here in Nagaland have been conducting verification drives of non-locals and issuing passes in return for certain fees. And the reason for this is not too far to seek given that people are losing faith in the government to deliver justice while on the other hand the government has itself become almost defunct. Naturally therefore, our NGOs, civil society and in particular student bodies have been undertaking such verification drive since ages and it is amusing that the government is only realizing now this default. As rightly mentioned by the government notification that such verification drives have no legal basis, nevertheless the existence of such parallel authorities is also an indication about the government’s own failure to fulfill its assigned duties. In a way this governance gap is the reason why our NGOs or tribal bodies have been compelled to undertake such measures even though legally they may be unauthorized to do so.
The concern over illegal immigrants from outside is very genuine and if the civil society was successful in checking the inflow of such unwanted elements then why should the government be complaining. A few years back the Ao Students Conference (AKM) had even alerted the State Director General of Police on the threat posed by illegal migrants. Nevertheless if our State government feels that unauthorized groups should not undertake such control measures then the concern authorities should start to perform only then people will be convinced. Otherwise if the government fails to perform, the community should not be blamed for taking their own independent checks. Similar is the case with attendance in government offices especially in the remote areas of the State. We have had student bodies or youth organizations undertaking routine checks to see if public servants are regular in their place of posting or offices. So whenever government fails in its duty there is bound to be grievances among the people. And if their voices are not heard (as is the case most times) they will resort to their own course of action. The government has argued that such action on the part of the public would be detrimental to good governance if they are allowed to function in areas that are purely within the ambit and scope of legally established authorities. Point taken. But then the government will have to shakeup its own system and start performing. If it fails to deliver then people should not be blamed.
So in fact the incompetence of our governments is best reflected in the way non-state actors such as the student bodies here in Nagaland have been conducting verification drives of non-locals and issuing passes in return for certain fees. And the reason for this is not too far to seek given that people are losing faith in the government to deliver justice while on the other hand the government has itself become almost defunct. Naturally therefore, our NGOs, civil society and in particular student bodies have been undertaking such verification drive since ages and it is amusing that the government is only realizing now this default. As rightly mentioned by the government notification that such verification drives have no legal basis, nevertheless the existence of such parallel authorities is also an indication about the government’s own failure to fulfill its assigned duties. In a way this governance gap is the reason why our NGOs or tribal bodies have been compelled to undertake such measures even though legally they may be unauthorized to do so.
The concern over illegal immigrants from outside is very genuine and if the civil society was successful in checking the inflow of such unwanted elements then why should the government be complaining. A few years back the Ao Students Conference (AKM) had even alerted the State Director General of Police on the threat posed by illegal migrants. Nevertheless if our State government feels that unauthorized groups should not undertake such control measures then the concern authorities should start to perform only then people will be convinced. Otherwise if the government fails to perform, the community should not be blamed for taking their own independent checks. Similar is the case with attendance in government offices especially in the remote areas of the State. We have had student bodies or youth organizations undertaking routine checks to see if public servants are regular in their place of posting or offices. So whenever government fails in its duty there is bound to be grievances among the people. And if their voices are not heard (as is the case most times) they will resort to their own course of action. The government has argued that such action on the part of the public would be detrimental to good governance if they are allowed to function in areas that are purely within the ambit and scope of legally established authorities. Point taken. But then the government will have to shakeup its own system and start performing. If it fails to deliver then people should not be blamed.
