Karaiba Chawang
KOHIMA | NOVEMBER 5
Nagaland cold-shouldered the draft 'North East Vision 2020', presented today for public hearing at the Zonal Council Hall, with both the State government officials and NGO representatives charging that the vision document has completely sidelined the crucial ongoing Indo-Naga political dialogue, and ignored the voices of the people of the region.
Many speakers, which included bureaucrats, representatives from NGOs and Church, civil societies leaders, politicians, academicians, and students, offering a critical view, felt that the draft lacked first-hand recommendations and did not actually carry voices of the people of the region. It was rather prepared by people living in Delhi basing on secondary data without consulting intellectuals and academicians of the region.
Agriculture Production Commissioner, Alemtemshi Jamir, was of the opinion that the Vision 2020 document provided more of critical analysis of what is happening in the region rather than offering a practical action plan. Expressing regret that the draft has no mention of the ongoing Indo-Naga political dialogue, he also felt that even undergrounds need to be consulted while drafting the vision document. He also said that many Nagas still feel that the State government is only a temporary arrangement and cautioned against frequent use of ‘weak governance’ in the vision document.
“It is dangerous to write a vision if we cannot implement. See the amount of frustration we are going to have if we cannot implement”, Alemtemshi reminded, emphasizing that the clear definition of practical action plan need to be adopted. “We are clear what we want. Put into practical action plan”, he said.
Several social organizations, including Naga Hoho, NSF, NPMHR and CNBC outrightly rejected the draft on the ground that it did not carry the voices of the people, and the Naga political issue being completely sidelined.
Naga Hoho General Secretary Neingulo Krome, pointed out that the vision draft undermined the sentiment of the people, and completely sidelined the Naga political struggle. He also expressed strong reservation on the draft, stating that it relates insurgency and the people. “Naga will be independent by 2020”, Krome quipped, while asserting that the Naga Hoho will not be in position to be part of the vision document.
NPMHR Secretary General, Dr N Venuh, charged that the draft is based on ‘hearsay’ and does not carry the voice of people in the region. He also said that the region has able technocrats and bureaucrats, but they were never consulted in policy-making. He demanded that the draft be restructured in a way the confidence of people is taken into consideration.
NSF President Imchatoba Imchen, described vision document as worrisome and demanded that the meaning of development in the draft be well defined. NSF will object the vision in the present form. It is not workable, Imcha said.
CNBC President Dr VK Nuh, also said that India lacked the political will to develop the Northeast region. He said that Nagas want political settlement and not the vision document.
NUTA President Rosemary, termed the draft as ‘patronizing and condescending’. Charging that voice of academicians and intellectuals from the region were not taken into consideration, she demanded that gender concern should also be given emphasize in the document. “Our voices should be heard and not people from Delhi to prepare our vision document”, she demanded.
NU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kannan, participating in the debate said that the Vision should be a one line statement and that the Vision document did not discover any new thing. “Stop talking about vision, but get down to mission. We already knew what we want”, Prof. Kannan also stated.
Ex- MP, Khyamo Lotha also argued that the Vision document did not take Indo-Naga talks as a reality. He also said that Vision document should not relate insurgency and people and demanded that the attitude of the Centre towards North East should change.
"We want peaceful settlement of Nagas problem', Khyamo demanded.
The NER Vision 2020 draft was presented by NEC Member, PP Srivastav. With Nagaland giving a critical response, the draft of the Vision is likely to undergo total review before its finalization.
The Draft of Vision 2020 projects the Northeast as the region which lags behind the rest of the country, with high rate of poverty related incidence. It states that people of the region aspire to achieve peace and prosperity, eradicate poverty; have a sense of belonging and harmony while maintaining their distinct identities.
The objective, the draft Vision states, is to ensure that people receive adequate food, clothing, and shelter, and that every family is free from hunger, leads a healthy life and participates productively in the growth process. “By 2020, they would like to catch up with the rest of the country and contribute to its affluence by becoming a prosperous part of India”, the draft stated.
Development of tourism in the region is identified as one of the most important sector, while it also equally underscores human resource development, capacity building for emotional integration with rest of the country, skill development, ensure corruption free administration, and strengthening local self government.
Its promises to model Central Master Plan for road connectivity by 2010, connect sub-divisional headquarters with all weather roads, upgrade all national highways to four lanes; rail project under construction to completed by 2010, connect all state capitals with broad-gauge; improved air connectivity, besides others. Vision 2020 also states that people of the region are tired of insurgency and expect that this connectivity can dampen the insurgency.
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