Moa Jamir
As the members of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) come together, perhaps for the last Budget session in the current tenure, starting March 19, it is pertinent to reflect on some of the key issues presented during the erstwhile People’s Democratic Alliance’s first budget for 2018-19.
As noted in this column last week, while PDA Government started its innings making some bold and lofty pledges each attached with an ambitious deadline, it was found wanting in translating the same into reality. Given the fluid nature of political configuration in Nagaland, the PDA has now morphed into the opposition-less United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Government; however, those helming the affairs are more or less the same.
Looking back, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who holds the Finance portfolio, was at his lyrical best presenting the first budget of the 13th NLA. ‘Times they are a-changin,’ he asserted, likening his party’s poll campaign ‘Change Is Coming-Change Is Here” and the successful formation of the Government to Nobel Laureate Bob Dylan’s cult anthem for change.
Fresh from the electoral success, the Chief Minister’s Budget speech was clothed with optimism, reiterating pledges made on the first PDA’s Cabinet meeting on March 8, 2018, as well as some new additions.
Reading the speech after five years is surreal, concurrently eliciting laughter as well as annoyance, when the promises and outcomes are measured on a scale.
The first indicator that ‘Times they are not a-changin,’ was the conclusion of the speech with another estimated negative balance of Rs 1,630 crore for the 2018-19 financial year. The PDA Government then cannot be faulted as the deficit budget has had been a perennial infliction of the State in the recent past, however, it ‘managed’ to increase the same to an estimated negative balance of Rs 2679.46 crore for 2021-22. There is every likelihood of a further increase in the deficit in the next fiscal due to various administrative changes as well as a fall in revenue receipts.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister then noted that the top agenda of the PDA Government was the “resolution of the Indo-Naga political issue” and vowed to make “all possible efforts to create a congenial atmosphere that contributes towards realisation of a solution that is honourable and acceptable to the people.” From its vantage point, the transition from PDA to UDA Government was one of the clearest demonstrations of the efforts. Attached with that, however, was the establishment of a ‘Centre for Peace & Non-Violence’ to “vigorously pursue genuine peace and unity within ourselves and also create an environment of trust with our neighbours.” It is the need of the hour for the Naga society, the Chief Minister then noted. Four years after, the State is yet to get one.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the removal of the “VIP culture” hours after the PDA being sworn, in the lucid illustration of its commitment towards providing good governance, transparency and accountability in the administration. Again, he promised the adoption of e-governance at all levels as well as filling up government jobs through proper transparent procedures and awarding welfare schemes and selection of beneficiaries for various programmes on merits.
Most of these promises are yet to materialised, while the creation of a Public Grievances Cell ‘that can be reached by all citizens of the State in a smooth and easy manner’ and purportedly acting as “bridge between the citizens and different Government agencies” have not been ‘built’ effectively. Ditto for ‘Project Management Board’ to ensure successful implementation of the Government’s policies, programmes and projects with central dashboard and the re-constitution of the ‘State Quality Control Board’ to ensure that there is no compromise in quality and standards on road construction. The Nagaland Staff Selection Board was constituted partially only after constant reprimands and directives from the High Court. There are several others in the areas of education, health, infrastructure, sports and youth resources, empowerment etc, with obvious mismatches between ‘intentions’ and implementations.
Reacting to the last budget, the opposition then termed it as ‘hollow’ with "full of fanfare festivals, tours and excursions.’ However, as the NLA members come together for the next session with a changed political configuration, no such observations are expected. As the Government’s spin doctor weaves a new budget speech, one can safely assert that many are yet to ‘admit that the waters around them have grown.’
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