I Mr. Kevise Sogotsü hailing from Teichüma village under Northern Angami II Assembly constituency would like to share a bit of my life story and also the political scenario in Northern Angami II A/C with the general public of this constituency.
I did not get the privilege to attend school as a child but started doing odd jobs early in life as both my parents passed away within a span of two months when I was two years old. Back then, I did not envision what the future held for me as I was illiterate and penniless. But through the blessings of God the Almighty, I survived the early years of hardships and now He has made me a man, to co-exist with dignity among my fellow villagers in our constituency.
With regard to the current political scenario in our Northern Angami II A/C, here are my views and observations.
I feel that the “political blessing” our constituency people received in the form of our elected representative Neiphiu Rio as chief minister of Nagaland belongs to the people of Northern Angami A/C as a whole, and not to some few selected or hand-picked persons. However, the blessing has turned out to be a curse in disguise to majority of the villagers and public of this constituency.
During Rio’s 25 years of representing this prestigious constituency, it is indeed lamentable that instead of equitable development and distribution of wealth, only a handful people are getting super rich at the expense of the common people. Rio’s countable agents and faithfuls have bought almost all land belonging to poor villagers right from Botsa to Kohima. Instead of helping, these people are forcing the poor and needy villagers to even part with their last vestige of pride and living – their precious land inherited from forefathers.
In this context, one can only imagine the fate or future of the villagers depending on their land for survival in the next few years.
Manual and labour works that were available in plenty in the past in this constituency is almost extinct now and villagers who depended on such manual and seasonal works are near starving. This is because the chief minister’s men have brought in heavy machineries such as JCBs, tractors, bulldozers and others to do all developmental and construction works. While these people have earned enough to feed even their next generations, nothing has been left to the majority poor villagers.
With regard to employment, it is seen that many graduates from our constituency having the requisite qualifications and recommendations even from the chief minister do not get employment. On the other hand, under-graduates and even class VIII passed students from this constituency are getting government jobs. What kind of yardstick is applied in this employment aspect?
What is the future of these students in the face of such discrimination?
Now, in the last assembly election, Rio rewarded minimum of Rs. 3 lakhs to every village in our constituency that gave majority vote to him. Except for the mere cash, what have the villagers got in the long run? Look around and see for yourself who is reaping all the blessings of this constituency.
These are some reasons why a layman and non-educated man like me is compelled to talks about politics. Those who share the same concern and plight, I beseech you to also pray for me.
Kevise Sogotsü,
Former candidate of Dimapur-I A/C
