Concerns are being raised with regard to the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) of Rs 300 crore granted by the Planning Commission, Government of India to address the development deficit in Eastern Nagaland. The Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) in a recent press note expressed apprehension that the special allocated funds under SPA for Eastern Nagaland might be mis-used if not handled and scrutinized appropriately for whatever projects it is allocated. Given our experience with misuse of funds meant for development, the concern of the ENSF is a valid one and needs to be addressed. That the ENSF has ‘urged’ the government to implement and survey the works/projects minutely so that no misappropriation of funds is detected nor the workmanship is compromised, this could perhaps indicate the fact that the government cannot be trusted to be honest. In fact it is not for the ENSF to actually tell what a government ought to do rather it is its bounden duty to use the funds made available judiciously.
Coming back to the SPA, the Rs 300 cr is big money for a poor state like Nagaland. How well we are going to utilize it is the big worry. There is complaining that this fresh grant is being diverted to sponsor some of the on-going works. The ENSF has made an appeal to the State Government to approve only fresh works to be undertaken/carried out through this Fund in areas of necessity, especially the Education Sector, Health and Road Transport and Communication. Now the question is who is going to set the agenda or identify what is going to the priority or need for people in Eastern Nagaland. The Chief Minister is on record as saying that the Rs 300 cr will be spent on ‘improving infrastructure’ besides ‘setting up accommodation and offices for the government officials and administrative staff’. We need to perhaps ponder as to which should come first—the horse or the cart!
Regarding as to how or where the SPA will be spend, in all probability it will be a political decision, which nevertheless should not ignore the real needs of the people. Our government will be required to dialogue with the people and through this process try and understand their hope, vision and more importantly their viewpoint/s. There will be greater chance of policies and decisions succeeding if people are kept informed and consulted. Governance is also bound to improve. And so while the government ought to clarify on whether this allegation about diversion of the fund for ongoing works is true or not, perhaps it is also appropriate that it makes a statement about how it plans to make use of the SPA given by the Centre. And in fact if we can recollect correctly, at the time of announcing the SPA, the State government was advised to work out special development projects for the five year period of the 12th Plan. The Rs 300 cr was to be treated as the first installment. So you see this is going to be a special package for the next five years and we can expect more funds under this SPA. But for that to happen, as advised by the Planning Commission, the necessary projects must be worked out and perhaps put in the public domain. This will bring everyone on board and ensure transparency and accountability. Right now there is too much secrecy and doubts surrounding the Rs 300 cr SPA.
