I would like to draw your attention to the deplorable conditions of health care, water supply, communication, transport and electricity in Anaki/Anaikhai village under Tuli Sub Division in Mokokchung District. There are no roads, health care, water supply or proper electricity. According to the village council the transformer has been spoilt for three months.
However, the electricity department in Tuli has not fixed it. Ironically, setting up Naga Heritage villages and picture perfect Naga postcards have become a trend for the state government to market Naga history, culture and people. But beyond those sanitized ‘model’ villages frequently set up by Indian security forces and the state government, villages like Anaki is swept under the carpet of the legislative Assembly. Such embarrassing realities of the government hang as uncomfortable reminders of a failed electoral democracy and a corrupt state government.
Kohima has become the headquarter to decide which Naga village ought to be developed for human habitation, which Naga tribes ought to be portrayed as ‘developed’ etc. Instead of sending our Naga children for excursions to Indian metropolitan cities often sponsored by the Security institutions under ‘National Integration’ projects, Naga students (high school, college, universities) should be encouraged to visit our villages to initiate projects and interact with our own people.
Let Angami students visit Konyak villages, let Phom students visit Sema villages and so on. Often, tribes restrict themselves to their villages and so do families who encourage their children to visit only their respective village. Such nurturing within families, clans and tribes has often led to ignorance about our neighbouring villages. Nagas have to share each other’s sorrows in our quest for justice. The residents of Anaki sincerely request the Tuli Electricity Department once again to look into their grievances and repair their transformer.
Dolly Kikon
On email
