Along Longkumer
Consulting Editor
Nagas have become so used to corruption and extortion from within that for most of us this has become a way of life. All of us are aware of the fact that Nagaland State does not have any industry worth its name. Our politicians, bureaucrats, national workers and civil society may contemplate even after so many years of Statehood or the Naga movement as to why we remain at the bottom of economic and human development. A former Union Home Secretary gave a matter of fact observation when he said that extortion in the northeast region had become an industry and how many of the so called armed struggles operating in the region were nothing more than a ploy to generate money at the cost of the common people. State politicians and officials may also blame the so called extortion culture of the underground groups but at the end of the day indulging in corruption is as bad if not worse. Among several things that we must do in order to grow and progress as a people is to defeat this culture of corruption and extortion that is hampering our way forward. But how do we even begin to dismantle and change this deep rooted system?
One way to go about is for the public to speak out more against such ills prevalent in our society. For too long, we the people have remained mute as though nothing is wrong. As a result, our government and national groups have taken public support for granted. It is time for the Naga people’s voice to be heard loud and clear. In a significant development, the Naga Students Federation (NSF) and the Eastern Naga Students Federation (ENSF) have strongly resolved not to allow any form of tax imposition on teachers’ and educational institutions. The two student bodies had in fact approached the various Naga national groups earlier last year on the matter but there had been no response. Instead teachers have been threatened over paying taxes with one of the groups even kidnapping two teachers for not paying their share. Such kind of bold intervention by civil society is needed because people are now fed up with the style and functioning of national workers. Similar plight among college teachers as a result of the State government’s indifference has come to light. Revision of Pay (RoP) arrears amounting to crores of rupees has still not been paid. If crores could be spend on buying votes during election, the government should answer as to why teachers have not been paid. Where is all the money? The NSF and ENSF should not distinguish between the ‘extortion’ demand of the armed groups and the corruption prevalent in the government. Both should be tackled with the same amount of force if Naga society is to improve.
A sensible thing that can be done is for those running the affairs of the State and the respective Naga political groups to put into motion, corrective reform measures within their respective organizations. Public sentiment can be ignored at one’s own peril. Ask the rulers in Tunisia, Libya or Egypt who had to face a people’s revolution and exit. Reforming our institutions is in our national interest. Not only will it guarantee order and legitimacy to the establishment, but this will help us meet the challenges that we will be faced with as we prepare towards greater self-rule and sovereign decision making. In fact the popular notion that Nagas are corrupt and large scale extortion takes place in our land only belittles our national aspiration to be an independent and sovereign people. All the high sounding mantra of Vision 2020; political solution; embracing common vision; peace and development; shared future etc will come to nothing if we continue to give space and feed the prevalent culture of corruption and extortion. While an honorable solution or national unity is much talked about and desirable, the State government and the Naga political groups must also prepare the ground for a future political mechanism and one that is capable of delivering transparency, accountability and Justpeace.
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