Kedi Haralu
The recent study done on millionaires in India has proved certain facts, which most Nagas would want to keep it a secret. Proving that there are as much Millionaires in Kohima as in New Delhi, shows a few aspects of our personal income, be it white money or black money:
1. When the State Government is so poor that it has to depend on the Centre for Welfare and Aid money, how come there are more millionaires in Kohima. The answer is very simple. The public is rich while the State coffers seem empty all the time. Thus the proof that most money is siphoned off by certain individuals and which is usually invested outside the State, so as to remain anonymous, plus the state having a tax-free policy, most people accumulate the Government money from various departments, in the form of Supply works and Contract works, where the profit is more then a hundred percent, and the Administration is helpless due to various policies given to us by the Indian Government, so that Nagas can be spoiled and corrupted, at the same time emptying the state coffers. I remember an old friend of my late father, who was amongst the earliest people who started the Naga Movement usually said, “Nagas stood fiercely and unflinchingly although the Indian Army outnumbered them, thus earning a reputation of fierce warriors, but when the Centre changed their tactic and started flooding in easy money, even the most committed and ardent freedom fighter fell, due to their greed. Why only blame Suppliers and Contractors, for we are all equally guilty for the state of affairs. Just take a drive into the outskirts of Dimapur – you will see a lot of new well designed, well landscape (even the gates are worth lakhs), Houses. Now, who owns these houses/property? I do not have to answer that, for I know that all Nagas know who these people are. Easy money is the main drawback for the advancement of the Naga Society, for every thing we undertake or when we come up with new ideas for business investment, we have to pay tax and likewise if any contract work or supply work is allotted, “love letters” come flooding in. Some demands are beyond comprehension, for those taxing us wants to take away all our profits, thus the hard work is gone to waste. How can we just sit back and tax the rich, without doing any work but demanding a part of the booty. It is sad but true. This is why we have more millionaires in Kohima and Dimapur then New Delhi.
2. To become a politician we need crores of rupees, which is spent buying loyalty and votes, thus the amount spent has to be made up and also profit a bit, thus the corruption in the departments. We cannot complain about corruption, since we are also guilty for taking money for our votes, hence easy money has destroyed our very fabric of our Naga society. Those who invest during elections also need to make up for the money invested, thus the corruption in their supply or contract works. This is the very reason why we have more millionaires in Kohima and Dimapur. Nagaland Government has a deficit of a few thousand crores, but the people are amazingly getting richer and richer. But one thing we need to understand is when you have more you want more for greed can never be satisfied nor can it be stopped for our wants become limitless.
3. Then we have our freedom fighters who survive on tax of each and every person earning some money. Even those grade four workers plus Adhoc staff are not spared. It is unfortunate. As a Naga I will of course give to them as my contribution, but paying tax is unreasonable. We should discourage these taxes, but instead, we need to encourage free will offering or gift or contribution. Every Naga being patriotic by nature would surely want to contribute something to our brothers who have dedicated their lives to achieve our sovereignty, thus whatever we give willingly will be done so with our support and blessing, which I am sure would last longer and be more useful and fruitful and would prosper in whatever the money is invested in, but demanding and taxing the ordinary citizens who make just enough to make ends meet, (plus ensure the education of their children), surely, such money will be spent at a much quicker rate and nothing fruitful will come out of it, plus losing the blessing and support of the common people. We should make one thing clear – the freedom movement which started way back in the late fifties and early sixties has not died out, instead has gained worldwide support, plus it is also the longest surviving movement in Asia or should I say the world. How have we achieved this? The support of the ordinary, common, simple citizens of Nagaland, has kept the fire burning, regardless of our inclination to one group or the other.
In conclusion, the survey done has in a way revealed all the skeletons in the closet (for us, Almirahs). It is a direct attack on us, by exposing our weakness for the world to see. This survey, without a shadow of doubt has been masterminded by the intellectuals in the Country, who indirectly points their fingers on us for our showing our weakness and greed, which will ultimately destroy everything in sight. This is a shrewd and scheming ploy to shame us and also our credibility is shot. But looking on the brighter side, Nagas have become more educated and more broad minded since most of the citizens belonging to the new generation have received a lot of exposure and have seen and studied why some nations have grown and some destroyed. Therefore we need to change our way of dealings and also the Church needs to educate the ordinary citizens like us, for the pulpit is the most powerful forum in our Christian dominated State. Thus this coming General Assembly elections can change all these, if the public decides to look beyond tribal and party lines, but elect a candidate as per his qualities and commitment in serving his or her constituency. We have one more chance to salvage our image and if we do not make the most of it when this opportunity comes, we may never get a second chance. Therefore the only thing I can say as a parting statement is, “elect those who genuinely care for the welfare of the people, and also look beyond party or communal lines.”
