Veroli Zhimo
Glorious sunshine. Pouring rain. From one day to the next, it feels like the summer is still in two minds about how it is going to unfold. The same can be said for Nagaland’s future.
On one hand, as we make the most of our much-missed freedoms and look with increasing confidence to tomorrow, the pandemic still threatens to cast a shadow over the brighter days ahead. Over the past week (July 24-30), a slowdown was observed in the number of vaccinations across the state with only 37,653 doses administered as compared to the 69,599 doses of the previous week.
According to the state’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), a 60 per cent jump in hospitalisation of COVID-19 cases— 128 admissions against the previous week’s 80, was also noted in the same period. The tally of cases for the week was at 597 with 24 deaths.
However, in the current week (July 31-August 4), the number of daily cases has shown an upward curve with 504 new cases and 18 COVID-19 related deaths within a span of just five days.
From past experiences, there is a growing tendency among people to drop their guard following relaxation of restrictions. Tell-tale signs of concern were already manifesting even before the state government’s ‘Unlock 4’ phase began on August 2. Scenes of people lowering their guard and thronging public places became the norm and district enforcement authorities barely put in efforts to implement the prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs). This disturbing trend portends a potential surge in new cases and if it is not nipped in the bud, it may hasten the onset of the third wave.
Nagaland cannot afford to squander the gains made by the cumulative effect of lockdowns, vaccination and enforcement of the COVID-19 protocol.
Citizens must understand that the easing of restrictions comes with a social responsibility of following the COVID-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks, maintaining social distance and avoiding big gatherings.
On the other hand, the curious turn of events in the state’s political scenario and the growing demands for a final solution to the protracted Indo-Naga Peace Talks has taken the centre stage once again.
On Tuesday, the issue dominated the opening day of the monsoon session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly too, resulting in the adoption of a five-point resolution calling for various Naga political groups to come together and to expedite the peace process.
Among others, the house appealed to the negotiating parties of the Indo-Naga political issue to resume the peace talks with a positive approach by setting aside pre-conditions, in deference to the Naga people’s cry for long term peace, and resolve the contentious issues of the competencies at the earliest.
It also appealed to the mass-based organisations and the Tribal bodies to make renewed efforts towards creating a conducive atmosphere for the early realisation of a political solution and resolved that all the elected members were prepared to make any sacrifices for an inclusive, honourable and acceptable solution.
While addressing the house, MLA Chotisuh Sazo said the Naga political movement is a people based movement asserting the rights and identity of the Nagas to live free as a people. Underscoring that all sections of the people should be taken into confidence so as to avoid dissension in the future, Sazo also asserted that the negotiating parties should be transparent with their Competency Clauses and Agreed Positions.
Similarly, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also sought the collective efforts of the Naga people to give the ‘last push’ to the ongoing Naga peace talks.
In these exciting, equivocal times, citizens must realise that the responsibility of shaping the ‘new world’ does not lie with the government or civil society organisations alone. Whether it is ensuring that the pandemic does not wreak havoc in the state or taking the ‘people’s movement’ towards its final and logical conclusion, the Naga people cannot continue to remain passive onlookers.
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