Kotso Medo
Dimapur
According to Michael Phelps…”Money is a dream, a fantasy as alluring as the pied piper”. It is said that 90% of crimes are committed only because of money related activities. Desires and expectations have lost more than it is found. Troubles, trials and tribulations all around only for a foolish gain yet earn it all in vain. Hours of desperation and fear flourished where the inspiration of the people all dried up. It is the universal desire to stick to the comfort zones, as it means avoiding all challenges and difficulties and continuing with status quo but mostly answer does not lie where a large majority searches it.
Today, the word, ‘CORRUPTION’ is a fashion or a trend maintained among government servants and even in our own village level bodies, so as to keep the pace with the new thing. With fast scientific and technological changes in this modern world, the hunger for money is high; people are on the track to trace and compete but seldom formed certain actions of hatred, jealously etc towards each other. Hence the traditional value of honesty, sincerity, individuality, togetherness etc has vanished into thin air today. How many people are familiar with corruption? Do they really know what it is? Does the process of filing charges sheets against corrupters are at various stages to tackle the menace of corruption and against willful defaulters of scam-related activities? The virus of corruption reaches every nook corner of various departments, institutions, organizations and not forgetting grass-root level bodies. And it is always the rich who targeted the poor and the weak for their self benefit, making the poor poorer and the rich richer. During this few years, Nagaland had seen rampant corruption in almost every department over every projects and schemes. And at a time, when there is constraint on resources and neglected regions, several colossal amount of funds are lost with little or no clue or should we say to satiate the lust for power of the politicians who are always on the prowl to grab loaves and fishes of offices at the cost of poor people they claim to represent .Yet in reality and fact, there is a politician-bureaucrat nexus to create new ‘green pastures’ behind the façade of bringing different schemes and projects, for the enhancement of their officials, political and material status. Many have become professionals and make masterpiece of their work as never had been caught before the eye of the people and public. Guess, the recent crisis of corruption in certain departments are a wrong step by a wrong formula towards their exposure. Besides, who will answer those ghost projects where amount are withdraw but nothing took place.
The law should issue circulars towards corruption culprits, warned or booked every person creating or practicing the art of corruption in order to mislead its people. Yet, at times, the law itself becomes an acquaintance with the system involved. There had been forging signatures, fraudulent withdrawal of reimbursements, fake certificates etc…which were made without the knowledge of such government servants against whose names the fraudulent withdrawals, payments etc were claimed. Yet again, we shall not forget such happenings in our village council levels which have become an open secret to everyone. Does Nagaland need a serious investigative agency? Only time will tell what hold for us ahead. In a democratic state the people are sovereign and public officials are answerable to them. “Government by the people” means that the people control their government either directly or through representatives elected by them and that state officials are held accountable for their actions. Public accountability also implies that there are clear and well-known rules of conduct and those adjudged to violate them can be sanctioned or replaced by regular and widely accepted purposes. Why then are we destroying the opportunities for our own people that modern society offer? Why are we a people living in fear and anxiety over opportunity? Why are we denying our own people the chance to develop and prosper according to their own skills, talents and genius? Outstanding performance, merit and excellence in every field of activity should have been our guiding principles if we want our state to excel and grow in all fronts.
They say there are three kinds of people in this world; 1. People who make things happen. 2. People who watch things happen. 3. People who wonder what happened. And truly today Naga people also witnessed such people in our own society. We have started to buy love, kindness, mercy etc with money power rather giving freely as God had given us. The human today fails the power of God and instead rely on its own power of money and strength. The right has gone wrong and the wrong have become right. Many live and thrive on the money of other people, but they have nothing to give in return, not even the answers to our questions. It is evident that if corruption continued, may create frustrations among the youth’s. Furthermore all potential skills of the youth’s should be enhanced to make the future society a vibrant living in all standards.
Indeed, it is urged and felt that no amount of planning, funding of projects, schemes and developments, scholarships etc would prove useful, provided the internal peace and harmony is restored. Time is change but with changed, the evolution and revolution of human activity never stops, so also our environment. And the attitude of serving or depending through others can never lead us to develop in any forms. So also let’s remember that change comes first from within oneself and that’s how one can change or be changed.
