The current situation in Nagaland is one of utter dismay and frustration. Public confidence in the government system is perhaps at an all time low. As already highlighted in these columns, people are fed up with the deteriorating road condition across the length and breadth of the State. The near breakdown of electricity supply during the peak of summer is not helpful either. Even the government machinery appears to be low on confidence and this is having an adverse effect on work output. Perhaps it could be the long summer holidays—the spirit of Olympics making us want to be part of the celebration. Whatever little work is being done is about inaugurating programmes, ribbon cutting, youth and tribal festivals etc. On top of this, there is the uncertainty over what is going to happen between now and the next Assembly Election. Will there be the usual State elections or are we looking at a settlement, interim government or whatever. Hopefully there will be better clarity once the Chief Minister along with the members of the Joint Legislature Forum consisting of all the 60 MLAs, begin the exercise of meeting the Prime Minister and other Central leaders besides the political parties. This process is supposed to start from August 6 onwards. Nevertheless, the basic work and function of the government should continue as normal. This includes general administration; maintaining law and order, upholding the rule of law, meeting development objectives besides looking into the plethora of public grievances. The problem with our governments irrespective of the party in power is that it has the habit of committing blunders all the time and getting itself entangled in one mess after the other. The number of cases pending against the government, while not forgetting the formation of one union after the other to take up their respective grievances against the government, all this goes to show the incompetence of our government system and those to run it.
The Chief Secretary could perhaps come up with better ways and means of improving the efficacy of the government. Frankly, the State bureaucracy has been a disappointment. It has failed to display its professional character and it has not lived up to the code of ethics expected of a career public servant. With the talk of reforms being envisaged, the day is not far off where our bureaucrats would have to either perform or perish. In fact, the Centre has notified a rule making it compulsory for IAS, IPS and officers from other all-India services to retire in "public interest" if they fail to clear a review after 15 years of service. Officers adjudged as inefficient and non-performing will be shown the door and even those who make the cut will need to remain on their toes as they face another review after 25 years of service or on turning 50, whichever happens first. Such kind of performance review should also be followed for the State civil service where the rot seems to be more. Coming to the uncertainty hanging as a result of the prospect of an early settlement to the Indo-Naga issue, important or major policy decision could perhaps be put in the back burner. For instance, during the time of the delimitation exercise a few years ago, the argument was that for Nagaland, a political solution was more important than electoral delimitation. Similar is the case with the contention over implementation of 33 percent reservation for women in State’s Municipal and Town Councils. Perhaps this is not the right time. Hopefully things will become clear in the days and weeks ahead so that the State of Nagaland and its people can also plan accordingly without the confusion and uncertainty being witnessed in the present.
