Out of frustrations and disillusionment, there has been a firm demand for a separate statehood ‘Frontier Nagaland’ from the present state of Nagaland by the aggrieved 6 tribes under the aegis of ENPO called people’s movement while on the other hand, the NPF-DAN government dilly-dally, callous, lackadaisical or call it a luke warm attitude and approach in dealing with the burning issue was the talking point of the general public over the past more than a year in our land.
Unfortunately, the present day government failure to rationalize the sensitivity of the issue and taken it seriously from the very beginning has done irreparable harm for the unity of Naga Society. It has forgotten that in lieu of irresponsible and bombastic political statements, healing political approach was a required component whilst also, instead of bureaucratic, joint legislative forum approach to pursue the issue in the first instance was the need of the hour. However, having said that, the government finally wakened up from its deep slumber, has permitted the issue for discussion for 3 consecutive days in the recently concluded assembly session can be seen as shown some semblance of acknowledgement accorded to the seriousness of the issue.
In this connection, the march session discussed the issue with members cutting across party lines have admitted that successive governments had been intentionally or otherwise neglected the 4districts – Mon, Tuensang, Lonleng, and Kiphire over the years and decades since the inception of Nagaland statehood and that has resulted to the socio-economic backwardness and lack of human resources development in ENPO areas wherein, the house resolved to unitedly focus towards the welfare of backward tribes is truly laudable and appreciable. In addition to this, the house also unanimously accepted to convey the sense of the Assembly to ENPO and appealed to ENPO to reconsider their demand for a separate state is humanistic approach which is welcome by one and all too.
The house further, expressed its regrets in unison for the past mistakes and negligence which need to be introspected and restrospected in deepest sense by the ENPO while at the same time, calling them to come forward for greater participation with the government for deliverance, unity, reconciliation and greater integration should not go in vain. Thus, it is expected that good sense shall prevail and they (ENPO) would have a realistic view and approach towards universal brotherhood in the greater interest of all concerned.
Now, seeing is believing but knowing is reality and therefore, the government of the day policy of appeasement for almost 10 years have immensely resulted to the unserviceable infrastructure and lack of quality controlled development in ENPO areas in absence and failure to reap their yearly allocated funds by themselves to bring in prosperity in order to uplift their socio-economic life to be at par with the advanced tribes is one of the main contributing factors for distancing the ENPO.
Also, it is an accepted fact that in the name of bringing development to those concerned areas, some vested power always dictate terms for reaping away all the yearly allocated funds while, merely presenting decorative and sugar coated lip-services there all these years have largely attributed to the backwardness of those concerned areas too. Therefore, it is high time, the self-proclaimed champion of backward development government of the day should re-visit those concerned tribes and its areas in right earnest with proper formulated prospective plans lest social unrest and political turmoil shall prevails in Nagaland and for which, history shall never forgive.
Sevotso Seyie
PCC Member
