Members of The Naga Blog comprising of young professionals held meetings with the Presidents of the two major political parties in Nagaland - Dr. Shurhozelie (President, NPF) and Shri S.I. Jamir(President, NPCC) to promote their awareness campaign “Don’t ask for Money, ask for Development”. Through this campaign the Naga Bloggers wish to make an appeal to all right thinking citizens not to ask for money during elections but to ask their respective parties and candidates for their vision and plans to develop our villages, towns and cities. The blog members stress that money will only satisfy our needs temporarily but infrastructural development such as roads, electricity, quality education, healthcare etc will provide a sustainable livelihood and prosperity in the long run.
The Naga Blog members organized an online meeting where members from Nagaland and abroad attended to draft a list of questions which has been sent out to all the major political parties in Nagaland namely – NPF, Congress, BJP, JD(U), NCP, TMC and RJD to get a better understanding of their party vision and roadmap on these core issues. The draft was presented as below:
Sir,
It is with great honour that we the members of The Naga Blog comprising of 20,000+ members from all over Nagaland and abroad extend our hearty congratulations to you and your political party for playing a vital role in ensuring a better future for the new Naga generation. Our generation is standing at the crossroads of our evolving culture and civilization and it is crucial for us, the youths to be involved in constructing the foundations of our dream Nagaland. Members of The Naga Blog have collectively come together with an idea to promote an objective approach towards politics. This campaign is called ‘Don’t ask for money, ask for Development’ and aims to encourage the new generation to understand the real essence of being a Voter; ushering a new sense of hope by creating a positive environment to promote a collective mindset of rationality and a spirit of innovation without considering Money as the primary objective of our lives.
We would like to submit a list of 10 questions related to current social and political issues in our State through which we hope to get a better understanding of your party vision and roadmap which will instil a sense of hope and assurance for the lakhs of young Nagas across the State, country and abroad. We hope that you take our initiative with a positive outlook which will enable us to work together and create an optimistic environment in our State. This initiative seeks to encourage cooperation, transparency and accountability towards building our collective goal. With this small step, we hope that it will gradually encourage people to build a development oriented attitude towards politics.
This same set of questions will be submitted to the major political parties in Nagaland inorder to get a clear vision towards building our dream Nagaland. We humbly request all parties to give the answers by 16th Jan’13* tothenagablog@gmail.com and join our debates in www.facebook.com/groups/thenagablog which will serve as a benchmark for Analytical Assessment and Constructive Criticism.
The 10 Core Questions:
1. Corruption: The new generation wants to see the rampant Corruption to be controlled in Nagaland. We believe that unless a mechanism is in place to tackle corruption, there is no point complaining about corruption. This mechanism comes in the form of Anti-Corruption Bureau and having our own CBI branch, which will add more teeth to complement the Vigilance Department. Will your party play an instrumental role in setting up Nagaland's 1st Anti-Corruption Bureau and CBI branch(The only State in India yet to have one)?
2. Political: The Naga Political issue is discussed without consensus and behind closed doors. The public deserves to know what decisions are being made for us by our representatives. Unless a solution is brought about, the general population is suffering from the taxes by UG groups and the shootings and killings in public places. What is your political party’s agenda on bringing about a solution to the Naga political problem and create a peaceful atmosphere for the common man?
3. Total prohibition Act: Highly adulterated alcohol in every form and brand is available in Paan shops in respective colonies at exorbitant price. Alcohol is served in official functions and we still have the tag of ‘Dry State’ which is a joke at the expense of the health of the population and the revenue of the state. Your party’s stand on ‘Total Prohibition Act’.
4. Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants(IBI’s): Dimapur is witnessing dangerous levels of IBI influx, Eastern districts are witnessing alarming increase in IBI's engaging in business and controlling our local economy. Before we become another Tripura, Bodoland or Silchar, will you enact stringent laws to curb this threat by not allowing IBI’s to engage in business ventures and property acquisitions?
5. Education: Almost every year some government schools, (Mostly from Eastern Nagaland), their passing percentage is NIL. Is there any agenda in your party to improve the government school infrastructure, administration and their passing percentage?
6. Healthcare: Healthcare has become very expensive even in government hospitals. Besides, few PHC and CHCs, Mon civil hospital and NHA Kohima, basic medicines and sundries are not available in healthcare facilities and healthcare providers are not in their place of postings. Our state has shortage of medical professionals. What is your party’s vision on making healthcare more accessible and affordable to the common man?
7. Development: What is your party's Vision and Roadmap for developing our State regarding Town Planning, Water problem, Garbage management, Sanitation and Roads?
8. Electricity: Nagaland is undergoing a severe Energy crisis particularly Electricity. What is your party roadmap and timeline for stabilizing this crisis?
9. Industries and Employment: Industries are regarded as the engine of growth for any economy. But sadly our Cement factory, Paper Mill and Sugar Mill rather than creating jobs, revenue and trade avenues; they are either defunct or struggling to be revived. What is your party vision to set up sustainable industries and generate employment?
10. Special Needs: Steps has not been taken to reserve the 3% of all poverty alleviation schemes for disabled people. Steps have not been taken by the State Government to include disabled children in mainstream education nor made alternatives provisions for them. What will be your party’s stand on this issue?
Issued by Yanpvuo Kikon
Admin - The Naga Blog
