Morung Express News
Kohima | April 1
The National Electoral Rolls Purification (NERP) 2016 & Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) meeting with social state level NGOs was held at Hotel Japfü on April 1.
Apex organizations and groups were present at the meeting where each group/organization were given time to share their views and suggestions, their activities on clean election campaigns and ways forward.
“60 plus years is a long time and we have come of age, and we need to ensure that the young people are actually asked to reform themselves. We are talking about young people who are going to become stakeholders of the future. And in order to have these young people to have something to look forward to when they are still a little idealistic, it’s good to let them understand that we are also standing with them,” asserted Rozelle Mero who spoke on behalf of the Naga Blog. Further Crediting the Church as the modern day Morung, Mero asserted that the Church plays a big role in a place like Nagaland. “Whatever the Church says, lay people in the rural areas listen to them more,” said Mero suggesting that the Church collaborate with the civil society to raise awareness and make changes for a clean election. The Nagaland Baptist Council of Churches (NBCC) shared their works and activities on clean election campaign where they informed that in order to observe one Sunday as Clean election Sunday, the day has been fixed on May 22 where sermon outlines will be sent to all Churches under NBCC along with prayer points. The NBCC is further planning to hold state level training seminar on clean election, each department of the Council will be taking measures/ action in educating and creating awareness on clean election. The Youth Department, stated NBCC, is also planning to visit all colleges in Nagaland for the clean election campaign. The resources that have been used for the campaign are brochures, leaflets, posters, flagbanners and video clips.
Geoffrey Yaden, Editor, Nagaland Post in his message stressed on the various malpractices in election in Nagaland. “Much has been said about electoral malpractices or evils but there has been no worthwhile effort on the ground to stem the root,” read the message where Yaden further asserts that election laws needs to be obeyed by the people and that it is the duty and responsibility of the authorities, public institutions religious and educational institutions to create awareness and instill a sense of responsibility
The importance of engaging in social media was also highlighted by Mero the older Naga generations need to move with the times and reach out to the younger people. Mero highlighted some of the activities of TNB which is working both online and offline to create awareness on clean election campaign mostly targeting the youth, students, and educational institutions. TNB will further be appointing TNB ambassadors in all 60 constituencies in the State and more offline awareness campaigns are to be worked out soon. “Our goal is to spread awareness of clean election as a social responsibility. That is the key,” stated Mero who concluded appealing all the organizations to join the initiative together to claim for change in Nagaland and to choose new leaders, the right policy makers who can set a better trend for the development of Nagaland. An official also stated that despite the many efforts and contribution, the work becomes invisible because of money power
Christopher Ltu, Asst General Secretary, NSF suggested that the Election Commission Department address the issue of enrollment of illegal immigrants which is a very pertinent issue.
On the other hand Kenneth Kath from Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) viewed that taking decisions from the bureaucratic level or the higher level is not helping at all. “More stringent directions should be given to the Wards and Village councils.” said Kath, since most of the inefficiencies are rooted through village councils and wards.
David Sangtam, ENPO suggested that the core responsibilities lie in Kohima and Dimapur, which will be followed suit by the rest of the districts and villages. Asserting that Naga society is very corrupt, Sangtam stated that while the election department is doing a very good job through the removal of bogus and multiple voting cards, many Nagas tend to create negative impacts despite the positive actions. Sangtam cited the malpractices where many Nagas in rural areas have raised the prices of their votes after the removal of bogus and multiple entries of voting cards.
Further, many have misused and manipulated the Election pledge, stated the ENPO representative citing the manipulation in several villages where leaders sign up the pledge for the entire village. Even with the positive actions taking place, sometimes the public can take it in another direction, said Sangtam who requested the Election commission to address the mentioned issues.
“We are primarily responsible but without your support, the ultimate objective cannot be achieved,” said Chief Election Officer Sanjay Kumar during the meeting who stressed on election processes and practices in Nagaland. V.Vero, Deputy Chief Election Officer highlighted the objectives and activities of the Department for the clean election campaign.
Suggestions were also given by Catholic Association Nagaland, Naga Mothers’ Association, NCRC, Naga Hoho representatives, Eastern Naga Women’s Association, and YouthNet.
