Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• Yes, The Naga Hoho cannot be considered an unbiased civil body anymore. Its present leadership has corrupted it make a tribal and factional subset. Take out its unfit leaders, then its legitimacy can be restored.
• Yes. Unholy nexus do exist between the civil society and the government. Most civil society orgs appears to have given up their real agenda of public service for greed and power. They are no longer the mouthpiece of the masses but an (un)official extension of the government's corrupted long arm. They actively and shamelessly participate in perpetrating large-scale corruption. Lobbying for contract works, job-shopping for their near and dear ones, or receiving bribes to hush up government's malpractices are some examples. Instead of ensuring social accountability and proscribing corrupt practices by the government, our civil society orgs are more concerned about pushing through their short sighted agenda that seek to benefit them instead of the people they represent.
• Yes. Whether it is Naga Hoho, NTC, CNTC or any of the tribe organisations, they have all been co-opted by the government. Like the black pot, they keep accusing each other. But they all have their own affiliation or understanding with one group or the other. Our land needs revival and that revival is not going to come through anyone of these bodies. These organisations will only keep dividing the people more and more because they have their own agenda.
• Yes Naga Hoho and NSF. Its time we need to support NTC for the survival of Nagaland and its indigenous People. Maybe its time to disband, re-organise and revamp if it is to continue as an apex organization. However I wish to opt for NTC and UNC of Manipur system and not the system of one Pan People's Organization for two, three different State's.
• Yes. No doubt about it. Where are the voices to challenge the govt? forget about the so called opposition party . Where are the people who talk about bringing equality during election season? Where are the church leaders who talk about clean election? where are the ordinary citizens who fights for corruption? It seems like every one wait for the 5 years to end so that they can voice these issues rather than checking the govt on keeping their promises. We become a boot kissers of the govt. The voice become a whimper which fades away. Too many society, too many so call leaders that they fight among themselves to gain the favour of the govt. Does the so call civil society really knows/understand what the people really wants from the govt??
• Yes. In the present scenario every organization seems to be affiliated to one or the other. Even organizations like NTC and CNTC which are the most new ones seem to have vested political agenda.
• Yes. They look for nexus with political parties in order to serve their own self-interests.
• Yes. after all the government gives the money to run, so what else can they do but to obey their masters
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• No. There seem to be a BIG CONFUSION about the role of the elected legislators and Pressure Groups. For instance, the tribal councils, the Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers' Association, NSF, NPMHR are Pressure Groups. They are not the decision making bodies of the State Government. The Pressure Groups, though they may be from influential civil societies representing women, youth, tribe or a region only give proposals and suggestions to the Government. Unless this is clearly understood, there will be outburst of emotions, sentiments and undesirable tensions. Many tribal and public leaders today are college and university educated, so they should at least try to recollect what they studied in their text books (when they were younger) to ensure proper conduct in a democratic set up!
• Oh almost all civil society are affiliated to political parties, so no.
• It’s a complicated question because one cannot generalize it. There are some genuine organizations and so I opt for no. Those organizations that have strong foundation have not been copted by the government.
• No. Its not the civil society organizations that have fallen prey to the government. It’s the people leading the civil society organizations that have failed. Whether it is tribal hohos or student organizations, it is the leaders of these groups that have been co-opted in the name of the organization. We need morally strong leaders to lead the organizations.
• No. Its not Naga civil society that has been co-opted. Rather the Government of India and its puppet, Nagaland government have been all out to destroy the Nagas. Unfortunately the tribal organisations have allowed their weaknesses to be exploited and with some political parties and groups patronising some recently formed tribal bodies this has allowed the center to divide us further. I say No, because it is the policy of the government to divide and rule and unfortunately some organisations have allowed it to happen.
• No. First, who is be to co-oped by whom? NGOs and civil societies do not dictate terms. They can only punish the legislators by not voting for them in the next elections if their opinions are not heeded. Whether the issue is reservation of women, tribal affiliation or Naga integration, the different roles of the elected government and the civil societies should be understood crystal clear to avoid misunderstanding. The law of the land is supreme, not raw tribal emotions.
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
• The government of India has been trying to divide the Naga people, and now they have found a weak spot through the Naga Hoho. Everyone knows that the Naga Hoho has not been strong, it has succumbed to political pressures and this has made it vulnerable. At the same time this situation is also being exploited by vested individuals. The recent formation of new tribal bodies goes back to how a political party is cropping up one of these tribal bodies. The division within tribal bodies is creating lot of havoc among the public.
• Many have succumbed to lucre and boleros and lost credibility, including some well meaning orgs. In Tenyidie we say tied or restrained by Bole – Ro (ro means rope).
• Depends on the organisations' relationship with government...Its obvious that org like NH and NSF are closely linked with government while others like NTC is working independently without government support at the moment. I think...ACAUT, NPMHR and Survival Nagaland is doing great so far.
• Not all but leaders from some organisation have become blind in your their core principle and duty. Their visions are blurry which confused the masses. There is no harm working and strategizing things along with government to Archive the common goal but the tie up should clean and healthy. But today our future is bleak.
• There is no black or white answer. Everything is very murky now because the water is not clear anymore.
