Imlisanen Jamir
The upcoming G-20 business meeting in Nagaland presents an excellent opportunity for the state to showcase its potential as well as to explore potential growth areas and develop partnerships for the benefit of the State. However, it is crucial to note that the efforts being undertaken for the summit should not merely be viewed as a one-time event for gentrification purposes. The state government should strive to ensure that these efforts are sustainable and continue even after the meeting is over.
The Chief Secretary of the State has announced that the state government is fully prepared to host the summit, and preparations are underway for a grand welcome of the G20 delegates who will participate in the meeting. Various infrastructures at the airport, roads, and venues are being revamped for the grand event.
The Deputy Commissioner of Kohima has issued an order for all roadside shops to hang presentable and transparent blinds with uniform colors to enhance the image of the township, and under construction buildings are disguised with green color mesh.
Additionally the Deputy Commissioner Chümoukedima has also prohibited dumping of garbage on the roadside along the NH-29 stretch from Dimapur Airport to Piphema.
While these initiatives are welcome, it is sad to note that the day-to-day running of the government is marked by a lackadaisical attitude that seems to be the hallmark of what authorities to love term as ordered progress. It appears that only when such events take place that the government goes into overdrive and begins to implement policies and regulations that should have been in place and enforced a long time ago.
While it is commendable that the state government and its administrative wings are working in full swing to welcome delegates for the G-20 summit business meeting, it is equally important to ensure that the developments made are not limited to just the areas falling within the itinerary of the delegates. The entire state should benefit from these developments, and it should be ensured that the efforts being made are sustainable and long-lasting.
In the past, we have witnessed many instances where the government has made efforts to improve infrastructure and amenities in certain areas only when a high-profile event is scheduled to take place in those areas. Once the event is over, these areas return to their previous state of neglect, and the efforts made are forgotten. This approach is not only short-sighted but also wasteful of resources and fails to bring about any real long-term change.
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