To represent a constituency and be a member of the esteemed Assembly with whatever capacity is an honour and privilege saddled with the onerous responsibility in primarily addressing people’s needs through legislations. We hardly remember any important transaction in the state Assembly this year except for the unanimous resolution on the Naga issue. This is way short of the mark and i wonder sometimes what pre-occupies our dear elected legislator’s hearts and minds during their term in office. I have two kinds of representatives in my mind:
My legislator
As a voter myself, i am in search of a legislature (even from this term) who has the basic qualities and depth of being entitled one.
My legislature is an educated and well-read person who is in touch with the ground reality closely connected with all stratums of people. Apart from nursing his constituency with unbiased leadership and management, the legislator should take up his pet issue and become a major VOICE, like on healthcare, sports, economy, agriculture, education, tourism ...etc. My legislator works with a vision knowing that even a little creative thing he initiates today will be a big foundation toward a developed state and society. The legislature burns inside him that before his term ends, he would make an important contribution by pushing on important legislations and reforms on issues he thinks most dear to him. People would, one day, identify his effort and laud him saying that because of him we are getting better water supply or better university or better transport, healthcare...etc. My Legislature tries to strengthen important institutions through proper, swift and bold reforms. He does not always take conventional ‘indigenous’ ideas, but also import ideas and practice (ways and means) from outside. He interacts and debates with fellow legislators from outside the state and even looks beyond the country walls. He is a dynamic leader and a voice even across the state. Sky’s the limit for them and they know their persistence will pay some day. Bob Kennedy spent his whole life in the Senate campaigning vociferously for free healthcare in America. Now we’ve seen the Obama Administration passing the historic Healthcare Bill.
My legislators are open and interact with university students and farmers alike to exchange ideas and formulate policies. He gets invitations from other states. He is very comfortable in Delhi and is sought after even in the capital circles. His farsightedness guides him on the principles of setting infrastructure and developmental plans, budget and goals. He knows that any short-term relief and solutions would only magnify the problems and expenses in the future. He is not worried for the next election. He does not shy away from revamping a whole department to make it more effective and efficient. He studies and adapts new ways in getting work done. He is resourceful, broad-minded and widely known.
Not my Legislature
He had a tough time getting elected. He spent a lot of money to hammer out the winning arithmetic from his neighboring village. He is a bit more ‘busy’ in appeasing party people and meeting ‘more important people’. He gets spoon-fed from bureaucrats on almost all matters. He gives bureaucrats a hard time and sends them to Delhi every month with applications for more pie from the union government. He has easy excuses on the lack of funds and developments because of the insurgency and political process...etc. He gloriously tries to chew ‘our cultured pan’ imported from Bengal and Assam and whizzes off in the beaconed car (with thick and heavy words of designation on the number plate), with a ‘proud Naga grin’ and constipated look (no smile at all). He is an empty vessel compared to other central officials and he avoids going outside the state on official visits, except for ‘private visits’. This is because he is not so good in communicating with other colleagues and therefore he doesn’t try to stretch his stagnant mind and hands beyond his state. He is a bit uncomfortable in New Delhi though he enjoys being reported, ‘Saab is in Delhi’. In conferences, seminars etc, he is always the isolated different one where other states has no need to reach out to him except for the exchange of pleasantries out of etiquette compulsion. Being at power here in Nagaland is enough for him. Instead of formulating and supervising development works and policies, he is busy using ‘powers’ on appointments, promotions and transfers. He is also busy languishing as the chief guest in a jubilee, festival or in a wedding in the ‘land of festivals’. He also needs to retreat down to Dimapur like the rest of his flock for weekends. But he needs to be respected after all he is an elected member.
Continuity and Change
There are a lot of stakes in being a Legislature or a Parliamentary Secretary/Minister. A legislature in Nagaland has more responsibilities to shoulder compared to others because, in the long-run, we are an independent entity in the making. There will be no one to monitor our works, no one to send progress report to. We deceive ourselves at our own peril and so it is imperative that our legislatures come good and raise their benchmark a lot more. There is space and avenues for every 60 legislatures. There are lots of institutions that we need to learn and build. More importantly, today’s voters should not elect a representative who doesn’t have the ‘know how’ of things and let them be the subject of mockery and shame to the state. Legislators need to look forward, ahead and outdated candidates should not be given a chance to get elected, leave alone assign a portfolio that he does not know the ambit of his administration.
My Challenge:
My challenge before the incumbents is to make a benchmark for our sacred Assembly during their term so that it attracts more young talented people to politics. If only the Assembly is regarded and pedestalised, matching their laudable business, Nagaland can float ahead.
C. Imlimeren, Kohima town
Writer’s e-mail: imliba@gmail.com
