Some practices in Nagaland are quite evil. There are some areas inwhich the government over does somethings unhealthy for the people and undoes somethings that may promote overall development of all the people of the state. We call ourselves Christians and invented the slogan, “Nagaland for Christ”which signifies that Nagas have committed to live as per the words of God and the teaching of Jesus Christ in the Bible.
We became Christians due to the unceasing effort of the western missionaries who taught us english alphabets and the Bible and baptised us decades ago. Thus the Nagas acquired education and transited from ancient and medieval eras of animism and head hunting to modern period of christianity and democracy.
There is an adage that Nagas were known for their honesty.Corruption was unknown in the government during the initial stage of Nagaland statehood and it is said that even 10 paise of the government fund was accounted for in the legislative assembly and all the unused money was refunded to the central government.
However, disproportionate peoples representation in the legislative assembly and government sector among variousNaga tribes is ironic. Assembly constituency is a division of state on the basis of proportionate population butit is grossly disproportionate in Nagaland.It would be delightful for beneficiaries to enjoy extra facilities and privileges but for victims it is unfortunate to miss the due share of avenues to progress alongside.The 33 % reservation quota for backward tribes is a mockery in Nagaland and it is reserved for governmentrunners to dispose off through the backdoor. As a resultgenuinely deserving people are deprived of the opportunities to rise in life and compelled to suffer economic inequality.Even the head of department fills up all the vacancies without taking prior approval from the government on the eve of retirement.The more astonishing is that each successive state government would never bother to implement its decision in toto and spirit. There is no binding for the government to break its decision any time.
There is no systematic price control in Nagaland and it is a nonissue for the government. So the price of commodities, goods and itemsare exorbitant and imbalanced. But it is a serious issue as it affects the income of every individual low or high and the most negatively affected are the cultivators and low wage earners. Government has ever allowed business units to charge maximum price without assessing and verifying the quality and quantity of items being sold, served, the toilets and cleanliness.Uncontrolled tax collection at check posts has been under practice.Many private companies have duped our people on the pretext of providing multiple returns but the government has not bothered to create solution to prevent deception. How can a welfare government be silent when some are easily taking away the hard earned money on the pretext of business.
Government talks big of industrialising the state as part of agenda but how can industries be established when there is maximum load shedding of electricity. Nagaland can not runeven a cold storage due to irregular electricity and sometimes even for a number of days. Who will run industries or factory on fuel /batteries using generators/inverters. Many small units are incurring loss and closing down due to electricity failure. Old electrical transformers are always burnt and under reparation. Say it is because the government has no fund to purchase new machines for replacement and due to electricity theft. But the power consumers are payingmaximum and not minimum fees and so is it not true that the theft amount is recovered from the genuine subscribers.
Looking around the miserable road condition, don’t we feel that people and costly vehicles deserve to ply on black - topped roads. Lots of expenditure is incurred on vehicle repairing due to bumpy jumpy roads.
Does not it reflect the wisdom of government? Is it not ashame when tourists visit the so called switzerland of the east and a land of festivals to view the mirror of Nagaland? Where is the sense of reaponsibility gone to.This is how we are intending to transform Nagaland into smart cities.
Corruption coupled with tribalism has negatively affected the Nagas. The richer are becoming richer and the poor poorer. Christianity has contributed a lot to the Naga society but corruption and tribalism have demoralised and degraded our society. Backdoor appointment is the easiest way to get white collared jobs for people who lack the courage and confidence for competition. Backdoor appointment leads to incompetence, irresponsibility, demoralization, dishonesty and gross corruption which are signs of weak government and so is the government of Nagaland.There are backdoor contracts/schemes/funds allocations which are less talked about but are equally disadvantageous to the Naga society. It shows that the state government does not hesitate to promote mediocrity in the highest level of service or provide quality service.Naga society has become stagnant due to moral degradation.
People just want to occupy high position without earning it with big sacrifice and high intelligence.All theseunfair practices are the indication that corruption in Nagaland is at its zenith.
Will it be called achievement of an individual or society when jobs, white collared jobs, money, wealth, and status are obtained by losing competitive spirit. Can there be any real development and progress in absence of competition? It is commendable that the church bodies have succeeded in declaring Nagaland as dry state and now it is turning attention towards electoral reform to remove evils of purchasing and selling votes, bogus electorates and riggings. But, who will preach the people and elected representatives to give others what is theirs and not to cheat and snatch others and why christian churches are silent. Naga people badly need good and talented leaders but they prefer financially more powerful candidates because they have become so weak. Are our churches strong enough to be not politicised and to bring about true social and spiritual transformation in Nagaland? Taking huge step to remove a big evil without taking care of every little evil will never lead to a fruitful social and spiritual transformation. Because every uncared little evil thing can grow up and become a big evil and destroy the society.Thus every little evil needs to be refined indeed is a task of bigger sacrifice of a local church in order to eradicatethe evils in the Naga society.
K.Thong (Achilo)
