‘It has been a fruitful and productive period for me’

The Morung Express interview with outgoing Governor PB Acharya 

Chizokho Vero 
Kohima | July 24

Outgoing octogenarian Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya popularly known as PB Acharya who was sworn in as the 19th Governor of Nagaland on July 19, 2014 completes his term this month. He will be replaced by  Interlocutor to Naga Peace Talk, RN Ravi. 

Dubbed as the people’s Governor, Acharya, during his five years tenure in the state has been very vocal on the Naga political issue, corruption, education and tribal values among others. Greatly concerned for the welfare of the common people, he also toured extensively to interact with the grassroots and initiated a number of projects to alleviate their plights. 

In a tête-à-tête with The Morung Express on July 20, outgoing Governor Acharya details his five year experience as well as other issues concerning the state.  The following is an abridged and edited transcript of the interview.

The Morung Express (MEx): Looking back, how does Nagaland today differ from the day you assumed the August office? What is your general feeling as you complete your tenure?

I am very happy. It has been really been a fruitful and productive period for me... I have enriched my experiences and have come know about the people – their problems and issues. 

Five years back when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took up the mantle to solve the Naga political issue, people become hopeful that there is finally a political will to solve the problem. There is a hunger for peace among the Naga people and they are prepared to plan ahead and to work out with whatever is agreed in the peace agreement and implement it successfully. 

From political point of view, I am very happy that the present government has a strong opposition. All this year, whenever a government was formed, opposition number was not that strong. For a democracy, strong opposition is very important thing. We have a strong opposition in the name of NPF (Naga People Front). Politically also, we are also marching ahead. We have to have a greater spirit to attain economic development of the state.

MEx: The Political talks between the various Naga Political Groups (NPGs) and the Government of India is over 2 decades now. What is your assessment of the peace process? 

I’m 100% positive by this year we will have a political solution. Already, the Framework Agreement has been signed by almost all the groups. There are two or three important issues where they have to come to a conclusion – flag, constitution and anthem for the state. Once these three issues are amicably solved, there will be peace and above all, the Prime Minister Modi has a political will to solve the problem. That is very important and all the groups (NPGs) are also cooperating without minimising or losing the main political issues. 

MEx: The Nagaland government recently notified the process of preparing the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants (RIIN), considered as  a diversionary tactic to skip the issue of implementing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) all over the state. What is your opinion?

ILP is for the non-Nagas who enter Nagaland to safeguard the interest of the people.  There is nothing wrong in implementing RIIN just that but we should have a broader mind. This means all the tribes should be included, not only the Naga tribes. There are non-Naga tribes like Kukis, Garos, Kacharis, Karbis; they should also not be discriminated. 

Apart from that, there are the Bengalis, Marwaris and non-tribals. The feeling that you are non-tribals and you are separate from the state should be alienated. Those who are here for years together serving the state should be included just like a citizen with equal rights.

RIIN should not be implemented to discriminate people and then create unnecessary division in the society... Some people may take the opportunity to do this but the government should be careful in handling this.

MEx: Your infallible energy at this stage of life is incredible and inspiring. What keeps you running and what is your philosophy of life?

Being a Governor does not mean just a titular head or a person to sit in the ivory tower. The Governor should be friendly with the people, meet the people, enable the people and find out the problems and try to solve it. 

To do outreach is a constitutional duty. The present situation demands that the Governor has to outreach and every individual have to outreach to strengthen the society. From that angle, I have been moving and meeting the people and see how I can help them. The Raj Bhavan is always open for the people. Anyone who has a social cause and agenda and wants to do something in his/her area, I invite them and give a helping hand. This is part of the outreaching job. 

MEx: Can you highlight some of the most important accomplishments and lessons learned during your current tenure? 

For any people to develop, education is very important. For industry, we require electricity, and youth should be employed” – these 3Es (Education, Electricity and Employment) are very important. We have educational institutions giving education but we need to have more academic courses which give them skills.  The present education makes them fit for government job but there is no vacancy.

Our universities should produce skilled persons. What resources we have in our backyard, our universities should teach how to create wealth from these. At present, educated people go away from Nagaland as there is no opportunity for them to work here. For this, change of academic system and skills are required. The problems or the issues for the development of the state should be the academic agenda of the university.

MEx: Generally speaking, is politics in Nagaland different from other states? Are there any distinctive features?

In Nagaland, people are well-organised from the ground level. So we are in an advantageous situation. But many a times, these organised groups dictate the political parties to come to a conclusion. This should not be there. Organisations should be to strengthen government activities. 

On women issue, we have to take a decision now. Our women are second to none. They should be allowed to participate just like in the others states in taking part as candidates in the elections. That would be a great thing. 

MEx: One of the keen initiatives during your tenure has been in the field of education? What is your assessment of the present education scenario in the state? 

Ours is a small state with around 20 lakh populations and we are very proud that we have 5 universities and affiliated colleges are also in good numbers; and infrastructure wise, high schools are also many. Education wise, Nagaland is not lacking as universal education is there. 

But the Naga youths, when they do graduate, they don’t have jobs. In reality, when they come out of the university, they should be job givers, not job seekers. How it can be done? More and more entrepreneurship should be there. For example, now we have a term organic food. How to create it, commercially use it, preserve it- that should be the knowledge the university should be inculcating. Water shortages are there. How to do rain water harvesting and preserve it or solar energy; such knowledge or heritage education are missing. 

The main expenditures of the government are on education and PWD. But there are many things requiring special attention. Our government schools are attended by the poorest of the poor. Teachers are appointed, they are getting good salary, more than double of what teachers at private schools are getting. Still then the private schools are bringing good result but government schools are lacking behind. 

There are duplicate teachers, no infrastructure, no library, no sports and many things are lacking. Somebody is siphoning the poorest of the poor people’s money. This corruption is not accepted. Education, if it is to strengthen, we have to have strong hand and right people so that our children are not lacking because of poor governance. 

MEx: You have been a vocal campaigner against corruption. Are you satisfied with how the things stand at present? 

I am not very happy about the situation. While the present government is bent upon on tackling corruption, it is yet to prove that they take action against the corrupt people.

Corruption is the biggest disease, more than AIDS and cancer and it can be addressed properly if the government is very careful and catch hold of the corrupt people wherever or whoever maybe, things may change. 

We have a Prime Minister who said I will not take money and I will not give money. So from the top, if we change the mindset, things will change.

To root out corruption from the lowest level, the government has to take strong step and it is possible, because Naga society are well organized from the lowest level and the church can play very dominant role in purifying the society.

We are having different denominations (of Christianity) in the state. All denomination should decide how to purify our society and make it free from all evils. They can. I am sure their voice will be heard by the people...

We have many achievers in small Nagaland but they are not giving back to the society. Whether you are a Christian, Muslim or Hindu, if you are in a position, because of your hard work, to become rich, and keep your wealth to yourself, then religion has not played any role in your life or education has not given you broader mind. An achiever has to become a giver

MEx:Are you satisfied with the functioning of Lokayutta? 

The hands of Lokayukta has to be strengthened. It is a very good step and I congratulate the government for forming Lokayukta as it is the need of the hour. For democratic government, it is one of the important institutions to arrest the corrupt people. Lokayukta has to be given all strengths so that it can work independently without fear or favour.

MEx: According to a recent central government survey, Nagaland has the highest unemployment rate in India. Can you share your thoughts on this? 

I disagree. Unemployment (in Nagaland) means, they don’t have government jobs. This is not the way. 

We have the highest numbers of graduates. In a population of around 20 lakh, we have more than 3 lakh highly qualified graduates from every faculty. No societies in India give that much strong education. Our graduates have capacity to create wealth but their direction is only towards government job. We need to change the mindset and entrepreneurship should be encouraged. This is also a legacy of the British, which left an education system to run the government, not to strengthen India. 

Our people are second to none. Depending only on Delhi for development should be stopped. That should be the agenda of the State government. 

MEx: Apart from economic issues, can you list some pertinent issues requiring urgent intervention? 

Yes, we are unnecessarily proud of our religion. It pains me as a Governor, when we observe Holi, Diwali and then prepare sweets to give to the people, our own employees here, Nagas, declines to accept the sweets offered. When Christmas comes and they come with sweets, I eat it. India is a secular country. For no reason, Nagas have become unnecessarily proud about religion. Any religion should not make you fanatic. You should be broadminded. Unknowingly or knowingly, many fanatics have been created here, who are disregarding the feeling of other religious people. This is not accepted... Somewhere, affirming that I am a Christian has given a wrong dimension to many of the people. This mindset should change. Every religion is equal; that is the basic strength of India. Even those who does not believe in God are equal.  Democracy, secularism and respecting diversity, these are the three strong pillars of India.

Apart from this, there are 150 unrecognized villages in Nagaland. They are denied government schools, hospitals, roads. Nothing is there. If you want to strengthen Nagaland, even the one who disagrees with you either in religion or customary law etc, they have rights or you cannot outcast them. 

Another important thing, there are many service giverslike dobhis, cobblers, and barbers. Many in these categories of people are outsiders but they are here for generations, years together and they are not getting the benefit of Food Security, while even the richest Nagas are getting it.

Unless you care for the person who gives you services, Nagaland will never become strong. A true Christian should never do this. Caring and sharing should be the principle. Service givers should be given all the benefits of the central or state welfare programmes.

MEx: What is your message to the Naga society, particularly the youth?  

Be proud that you are Naga and your agenda should be to strengthen Nagaland, not strengthen yourself. When you go away from Nagaland, you are strengthening the state you are working for; nothing wrong in that but not at the cost of your own state. Educated people are there. Resources are there. Create wealth. Work for Nagaland. Make Nagaland strong and be proud that our state is not a beggar state to go and ask money from Delhi.

MEx: Can you give us peek into next stage of your illustrious life? 

I am a soldier in the party. Being a Governor, I am apolitical man; otherwise I am a BJP activist. When I go back after my term whatever the government says, if either the President or Prime Minister wants to make use of my energy, I am prepared.

Apart from that, I have great love affection for North East, particularly Nagaland. Anytime, Anywhere, Naga people want me I am prepared. I am at disposal of Nagaland to help and give helping hand to strengthen Nagaland to become equal partners along with the 28 states of the country.