Dimapur, January 4 (MExN): The North-East Legal Cell, Anti Corruption Council of India (ACCI) on Tuesday said that it would work towards creating a corrupt-free region by setting up a cell in all the North Eastern States.
“Anti Corruption Council of India is committed to uplift the society for bringing about a welfare state where all citizens should enjoy equality without any discrimination. Hence, the ACCI will start its mission with holistic approach without any ambiguity and biasness,” ACCI North East Legal Cell Chairperson P Pius Lotha said in a press release.
Taking cognisance that Nagaland has earned the sobriquet of “worst performing state in the country for two consecutive years” despite attaining statehood in 1963 and being the second oldest state in the North-East; the release noted that the State has not been able to perform satisfactorily in the welfare and public utilities services sector till date.
It drew attention to the lack of proper medical health care facilities, ‘pathetic’ road communication systems, and ‘deplorable condition’ of Government schools and said that “public works undertaken in the state are in a very deplorable condition where the work is started and cannot bring about logical conclusion in time due to misuse of funds.” Citing cases like the construction of State High Court, construction of State Stadium at Dimapur, construction of Cricket Stadium at Sovima, construction of Medical College, construction of roads in the State as well as different public utilities services which have not been carried out as planned and sanctioned, the release claimed that “the funds which are sent for the welfare and development of the state are being siphoned off,” thereby, depriving citizens of their privilege.
The different essential utilities services undertaken by various departments which are supposed to be enjoyed abundantly by citizens does not reach the public but are siphoned off and disappear into thin air and remain on paper, it added.
“In view of rampant corruption prevailing in the State, the youths of the State both qualified and non-qualified have been deprived of employment opportunities leading the youths to migrate to other States in search of employment,” the release stated.
Maintaining that citizens of Nagaland have now been classified into “have and have not's,” the release underscored the need to have checks and balances on all the irregularities and fix accountability in order to bring about equality and rule of law.
As such, it affirmed its determination to bring about reforms and appealed to the public to cooperate and assist in uprooting the menace of corruption from the state, and to help unearth and expose the corrupt people and punish them as per the law of the land.
