Moa Jamir
Do you think the public is also responsible along with the Naga leaders in creating a corrupted society? The Morung Express asked its reader last week. Not surprisingly, 74% of the respondents agreed and though a minuscule 2% disagreed, they deny the existence of the corrupt practices. Those opting for others (24%) concurred that corruption is inherent in the Naga society. While around 80 readers choose to engage with the questions, one can assert confidently that the outcome would be more or less similar, if extrapolated across the State.
There was a common consensus that corruption is entrenched at every level of the society, and most cited electoral politics and money power as the leading causes. “Everyone is hand and glove- corrupted! The whole mindset of Naga people have to change,” read one response.
Hence, everyone acknowledges the problem but is concurrently aware that a solution remains elusive, though mirages appear periodically in the form of lofty rhetoric by those at the helms of affairs or efforts by few activists or organisations. Accordingly, it is prudent to holistically study the phenomenon of corruption in its totality, not in the stylized definition, to ensure that various inter-linkages are identified and dealt with.
For instance, Transparency International (TI) defines, “Corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain,” and include behaviours like public servants demanding or taking money or favours in exchange for services; politicians misusing public money or granting public jobs or contracts to their sponsors, friends and families, and corporations bribing officials to get lucrative deals.
While the TI’s description self-admittedly is not an exhaustive list, it excluded some pertinent, perhaps organic corruption entrenched in the Naga society including the question of direct electoral malpractices such as ‘cash/job for vote’ and in toto declaration of candidates; short or non-executions of public works or inferior workmanship, and bureaucratic adventurism akin to politicians.
As Transparency International noted, “corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development and further exacerbates inequality, poverty, social division and the environmental crisis” and such phenomenon are in the Naga society. Again, it argued that exposing corruption and holding the corrupt to account can “only happen if we understand the way corruption works and the systems that enable it.”
In the context of Nagaland, however, even though most are aware of the ‘way corruption works and the systems that enable it,’ the Naga society appears too feeble to resist its overarching tentacles.
The rationale could be attributed to the continuity of the disquieting but apparent impunity afforded to perpetrators of corrupt practices. It further exhibits how impunity in social and political spheres has seeped into governance.
The observation of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in its last report on the Government of Nagaland (Report No 2. of 2020) that it is a “matter of grave concern that these malpractices (cases of excess/fraudulent drawal) persist despite being highlighted in past audit reports” is a case in point.
The State Government’s action, despite its lofty goals of ensuring transparency and accountability, on the appointment of Nagaland Lokayukta also does not engender any confidence. To recollect, the State Government opted for a legislative amendment, presumably, to escape the scrutiny of not appointing a new Nagaland Lokayukta within a legally stipulated time, after the exit of the previous incumbent.
This situation is similar to what U Myint (2000) postulated in the Asia-Pacific Development Journal that, “Bribery and graft are crimes of calculation and not of passion. Hence, when benefits are large, chances of getting caught are small, and penalties when caught are light, then many people will succumb.”
As long as the culture of impunity persists and both the State Government and the general public remain noncommittal in dealing with the issue, the Naga society will ‘trust’ corruption and keep succumbing to its charms.
For insight on corruption, drop a line to jamir.moa@gmail.com
