Dimapur, August 21 (MExN): The National Concern Initiatives (NCI) has called for transformation of Nagaland “by strengthening citizen participation through discussion and initiatives”.
The NCI, in a press release from its Convenor, Tsukjemtiba Ao, informed of a meeting where its members, comprising farmers, disabled, students, unemployed etc., from various districts jointly surveyed every development status and public benefits of the last 4 years. Insisting that the involvement of citizens in the development process is “very essential”, the NCI maintained that the strategies for increased citizen participation in governance should be genuine participation of all members of society, particularly the poor. According to the NCI, this “involves ordinary citizens assessing their own needs.” “Excluding the weak and powerless from decision-making is a cause of poverty because it denies them rights and creates unequal power relationships,” the NCI argued. The NCI further insisted that public servants and political leaders be made accountable to the people. This, it maintained, is important for improving public resource management and reducing corruption.
