Moa Jamir
How tech savvy is our government? The Morung Express asked in June 2017, noting that barring a few, most of the Nagaland Government departmental or affiliated websites were either defunct or simply abandoned projects. Overall, it observed that the state of affairs from the top to the bottom was drowning in oblivion.
That won’t be the case anymore, if one is to go by Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang announcement to join social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A welcome step, the ‘tech savvy’ CM will go online at 6:00 pm on August 21, according to a State Government’s publicity message.
"My Government is committed to serve the people and work towards progress and development of the State. When we all take the responsibility together, we are in a position to secure our youth and positively build the future of our State. I would like to communicate with my people, hear from them and work together as a Team," the CM declared.
It’s been a good month for Zeliang. Besides still holding the trump card at the ongoing leadership tussle in the Naga People’s Front, a hagiographic documentary on the life of the incumbent CM is currently doing the rounds on YouTube and will be officially unveiled on August 21, according to a media report.
Perhaps, a new era of governance ushered yet “again” in Nagaland. If not roadways, the CM will be enabling seamless connectivity to the information highway.
Perhaps, it will not be like the case of the official website of the Chief Minister of Nagaland launched under his tutelage with much fanfare and promising a “people-friendly” office in September 2016. It also promised, “An interactive page where the people can interact with the CMO with the intention of enabling the people to express their views and opinions on major issues.” While such opportunities were not availed when The Morung Express visited in July last, it has been regularly updated since then.
Perhaps, other Nagaland governmental websites will do well to take a cue from the CM and “earmark 3 per cent of their budget allocation for IT-related activities” as informed at the launching of CM’s website and wake up from its Rip Van Winkle’s slumber.
Perhaps, through this, he will hear the groan of daily commuters complaining about the sludgy, dusty and bumpy roads. Some have not seen road repairs in nearly three decades.
Perhaps, he will take a note to the cry of school children for good teachers, classrooms and connectivity; and the disgruntled cry of the unpaid school teachers.
Perhaps, the CM will be ‘poked’ online by the disillusionment of genuine job aspirants diligently waging for fair chance to serve the government sector. Perhaps, the citizen will get connected with their deserved public welfare and service delivery and will experience a sense of belongingness in the state of affairs.
Perhaps it will help in identifying the creeping virus of corruption and cleanse the system.
Perhaps, it will be a harbinger for change in Nagaland and the CM will not continue to give mere lip service to address issues surrounding the state.
Perhaps, he will become the most 'followed' Naga online. Perhaps!
For any comment, drop a line to moajamir@live.com
