A Reality Check on the Performance of the PDA Government in Nagaland

The NDPP & BJP pre-poll alliance’s election slogans of the last State Assembly Elections 2018 are still fresh in our minds. Those commitments like “Deeds, not words”, “Change is coming”, “Election for solution” and PM Narendra Modi’s election speech in Tuensang Town- “Apuni vote BJP ghey diley development apuni bosti tie ponchai dibo”…

The people of Nagaland with great expectations and hope blessed them to form the government though they were short of majority. Now, the PDA: NDPP &BJP coalition Government has successfully completed two and half years of governance, halfway through its five year tenure.

In my personal observations, the PDA Government led by the able leadership of Shri Neiphiu Rio, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland, true to their commitments seriously took up some important development activities, some of which have been well executed but at the same time it is also felt that they must truly deliver some of their other popular promises and also give greater emphasis to some other activities as listed below :-

1. Road sector:

               a. They first concentrated on Town roads such as Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung and Phek towns where the roads have improved to some extent. We are also expecting other town roads will be taken care of on priority-basis.

               b. National Highways and Districts connectivity roads:-

               i. Dimapur to Kohima NH-29 4-lane road (76 kms) : The work in progress is anticipated to be completed by next year.

               ii. Kohima to Wokha NH-61 from Henbeji to Longsa (32 kms): The work is in good progress and anticipated to be completed within this current financial year.

               iii. Kohima to Peren via Khonoma (about 50 kms): The work in good progress is anticipated to be completed within this current year.

               iv. Wokha to Bhandari: The work is completed but the workmanship was not satisfactory.

The Government must work steadfastly towards timely completion of the ongoing works and improve the connectivity of and to the remaining districts on utmost priority to fulfill their commitments towards the people.

2. To produce more efficient bureaucrats and more successful exam aspirants among Nagas, the Government is sponsoring hundreds of aspiring candidates for coaching classes to compete in the UPSC, NPSC and Allied Services Examination which is a very good initiative and appreciable venture.

3. The Nagaland cabinet has approved for setting up of the Nagaland Staff Selection Board for recruitment to Non-gazetted posts is also most appreciable.

4. The delimitation exercise on Assembly Constituency seats in Nagaland and Parliamentary Constituency seats for Nagaland, is aimed at adjusting assembly seats to ensure equal, just and proportionate distribution and consequently representation. The government must welcome the exercise with open arms; support and cooperate with the appointed Commission and facilitate its implementation. However, contrary to this belief, the government has taken decision and recommended for deferment which is a very unfortunate and immature decision on the part of the government much to the disappointment of the public.

5. The Naga Peace talk being in its crucial final stage, it requires the government’s unflinching support and cooperation as a facilitator being the link to the central government and spearhead towards bringing an early, honourable, inclusive and acceptable solution; and concluded the talks as committed.

6. In this Global Economic crisis situation, I strongly feel that the Government should focus and concentrate more on the sustainable and self-sufficient production of Agri, Horti and meat products. I am quite confident, in these areas Nagas can do better if the government comes forward to encourage and facilitate the farmers and entrepreneurs.

7. Creation of new District Headquarters: Creation of district for the most-needed areas or communities is felt to be the most important and greatest development for the people. Through the creation of the district, the citizens get their due shares of funds allocation and development without the interference of others. It also boosts the efficiency of administration for the security, safety of the lives and properties of the people and further enhances the effective management of law and order activities. Therefore our immediate neighbouring states like Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have recently created several districts base on necessity. Wheareas, the Nagaland government seems to be finding difficulty or unwilling to create even the few most-needed districts. Some cases in point are:- the oldest sub-division Tseminyu — a separate District HQ for the Rengma tribe; Tobu – a most interior and neglected area in devolopment; Mangkonglemba and Bhandari for effective administration and assessment of law and order situation effective administration in the bordering areas.

I sincerely hope the Government of Nagaland will side its attitude towards being ‘development-monger’ rather than ‘power-mongering’ and fulfill the aspirations of its people true to its commitments during elections – “deeds, not words”, “change is coming” “election for solution” and that “development will reach the Naga villages”.

A concerned senior citizen,

KHINYI WOCH

Bayavu Hill Kohima.