Mindset Change & Strong Law Required
Along Longkumer
Consulting Editor
A lot has been stated on the land holding system practiced amongst the Nagas and how this is a boon as well as a bane to us. While in the context of our land and its resources, our identity and rights over it is protected by Article 371 (A) of the Indian constitution, yet this privilege we have come to enjoy has also put road blocks when it comes to our development goals. Since the government in Nagaland owns no land, for all development related activity, it has to buy land from private parties, sometimes at rates which are simply not affordable. Ultimately the cost of a particular project becomes so high that it is not viable to proceed. In this way, a lot of development has been stalled. At the end it is Nagaland and its people who will have to suffer and bear the losses.
Just to take a few examples in the recent past— this column has been highlighting about the problems faced in the acquisition of land for expansion and modernization of Dimapur Airport, four-laning of NH-39 from Dimapur to Kohima, construction of new railway line from Dimapur to Zubza and other development plans. Landowners have been demanding unrealistic and exorbitant prices that have resulted in these projects being derailed for now close to ten years. A few days ago it was announced that the survey line for the Kohima railway line has been finalized. Now this is the third time that the alignment had to change because of failure to procure land. Railway officials have stated that this is possibly the last chance to revive this project. It is now up to the State government to convince landowners to part with their land at a reasonable rate of compensation.
A few years ago, a state-level consultative meet on the issues of ownership of land and its resources vis-à-vis the rights of the government for public use was held in the State Capital Kohima. Leaders like Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Governor of Odisha, Dr. S.C Jamir, retired judge of the Supreme Court, Justice H.K Sema, etc., were unambiguous in their assertion that serious introspection was needed with the view to change our mindset which they felt, is preventing us from moving at the “right speed and in the right direction”. Clearly there is a need to bring about a change in the mindset of the Naga people, to look beyond our own self interest and come out of our ‘tribal cocoons’. All of us are also aware of the fact that government property whether road, land, they are being encroached upon with impunity. It is quite clear that what Nagas need today is a change in mindset towards public welfare and working for common development goals.
Coming back to the perennial problem of landowners demanding “unrealistic and exorbitant prices” as land compensation, the answer to this problem could lie in coming out with clear and unambiguous rules by the State government. Because of the absence of a strong law, landowners get away with their whims and fancies. And once there is a clear rule of law, the government should have the political will to enforce this uniform law across the State without compromise. More often than not, the government is unable to deal with public opposition. And because it does not have the resolve to stand its ground, the government is seen as weak and bullied into submission. The point is this: we need a strong law and also a strong government besides off course changing the mindset of our people towards common development goals and welfare.
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