‘Unholy alliance’ of guns & corruption shall be eliminated: Nagaland Governor

DIMAPUR, JANUARY 25 (MExN): Nagaland Governor RN Ravi on Saturday vowed to eliminate the "unholy alliance," the two evils - Guns and Corruption from Nagaland which he said have taken an unacceptable toll on the Naga people.

 “The political economy of guns and corruption is holding the present as well as future of our people to ransom.  It is a vice-like grip, a heinous crime against our people. It is unacceptable.  The unholy alliance of the two has to be broken; it shall be broken and the two shall be eliminated,” Ravi categorically stated in his message on the 71st Republic Day celebration. 

“When the rest of the country; even our neighbours in the North East are marching ahead to greater prosperity, we, in Nagaland, are craving for basic needs like motorable roads, functioning basic health centres, schools with qualified teachers.   Our development projects, infrastructure projects, health and education projects, livelihood projects have suffered enormously by the twin evils,” Ravi lamented. 

He therefore said eliminating guns and corruption is essential for building the New Nagaland.

Nagas need to become technology warriors 
Ravi envisioned that the New Nagaland has to be capable of successfully meeting the challenges of modern world.  

While attributing to Nagas as legendary warriors who successfully met the challenges of the past, Ravi, however, said in an inter-connected world challenges are different and modern warriors have to be technologically powerful.

“More than physical strength and courage, today victory and success are determined by how advanced people are in terms of modern technologies.  The modern world respects knowledge and technology warriors more than physical warriors,” he stated.  

He imagined the New Nagaland to host ‘Technology Hornbill’ showcasing innovations and entrepreneurship in science & technology along with our cultural Hornbill.  

Ravi said building a network of good roads is among the top priorities of the Nagaland Government.  “We should remember that a road network is like the circulatory system in our body.  A good circulatory system is essential for a healthy body. Similarly, a network of good roads in the State is essential for its healthy growth.” 

In order to ensure that our road projects do not suffer due to rampant extortions by gangs using guns, Ravi said the state government has constituted a Highway Construction Protection Force in Nagaland Police.  Also a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted for focused and determined investigation of extortion cases to bring the culprits to book.

SSC for non-gazetted staff 
Taking into account that transparency, accountability and fair play are the tripod of good governance, Ravi said the state government is seriously working on setting up a statutory body for selection of non-gazetted staff.  He said the Staff Selection Commission for non-gazetted staff will do away with the current system of ad-hoc appointments and will ensure fair play and justice in government recruitment system.

With Nagaland being a village centric State and village councils responsible grass-root units of governance, Ravi said the village councils have a very important role in building the New Nagaland.

Pointing out that the status of village roads, village schools and village health centres reflect the integrity and efficiency of the village councils, Ravi urged upon them to take their responsibility with utmost seriousness.

Two Governor’s awards constituted
Ravi also informed that the state government has constituted Governor’s Award for excellence in ‘Environment protection and preservation’ and in ‘Mitigating and eradicating social ills.’ 

He said the awards have been constituted to encourage healthy competition and enhanced awareness for environment protection and secondly to create awareness and encourage the good Samaritans helping the society against this evil. Both the awards will begin from this year’s Republic Day.

On the occasion, Ravi also paid homage and tribute to the “leaders of the Naga Peoples’ Convention, who, under the most trying circumstances, displayed their extraordinary courage, political vision and strategic foresight and secured for the people,   the Nagaland State with Special Status sanctified under Article 371-A of the Constitution of India.”