Dimapur, Aug 1 (EMN): Kohima Law College led by its professor-in-charge, Kezhokhoto Savi conducted a campaign on Citizen Rights & Duties awareness at Kohima Ao Baptist Church (KABA) Bayavu Youth Fellowship on July 30.
Topics such as Lokayukta, Consumer Rights, Clean Election, National Food Security Act, Environment, RTI, Food Safety & Standard Act & Human Rights were presented by Chenosinlo Seb, Bokali Kasho, Akum Aier, Matholeno Kezo, Yanthungo, H. Pungmei Phom, K. Lilly Swu and Nzamongi Odyuo.
Sp0aeking at the programe, professor-in-Charge, Kezhokhoto Savi who is also the president of NVCO questioned as to why the present government, particularly the legislators be during the Chief Ministership of T.R. Zeliang or Dr. Surhozelie Liezietsu are not willing to establish Lokayukta in Nagaland? However, Nagaland as a democratic state, the demand or the voice of the people has to be honoured. Had Lokayukta already been set up, Savi said by now the famous case ‘so called Pillai’ would had been arrested so as several ministers/parliamentary secretaries/advisors/MLA and public servants who were involved in corruption.
Lokayukta is an Anti-Corruption Act or it can also be considered as a watch dog to pinpoint the wrong doing of the administration, to look into the complaints of the people and to suggest measures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Government, he said. He also added that this is to be set in states to provide clean, transparent and accountable government of the people and this is mainly to fight against Corruption.
Why the people of Nagaland demand Lokayukta in the state? The simple reason is to eradicate the present prevalence of corruption in the state such as nepotism where politician particularly ministers/parliamentary secretaries/advisors and public servants/ appointing authority offered jobs to relatives and family members without following the selection process leading to huge backdoor appointments in all the departments, favoritism where huge involvement of public funds meant for infrastructural development such as contract works or supplies were awarded to own choice of people without following open tender norms and invites deduction of huge percentage so called ‘commission’ of minister or parliamentary secretary and party fund including other illegal taxes, Savi stated .
Savi pointed out that extortion, bribery, diversion and misappropriation of public funds, etc. and the consequences of corruption faced by the citizens of the state is bad roads, bridges breaking, increasing the gap amongst the haves and the have not, the poor are becoming poorer and the rich are becoming richer at the cause of public funds/ shares, poor infrastructure of health care and education, poor electricity services, almost nil in water supply or safe drinking water of government initiatives, government employees not getting monthly salary in time, several scams including PDS (rice), kerosene, etc.
Lokayukta is also to address the suffering of the common people, to check the failure of the government and social system and to check the misused of public fund among others, he added.
He asserted that it is the duty of the general public to demand consistently until Lokayukta is set up with a challenge – “Today if you don’t fight for what you want than tomorrow don’t cry for what you lost”.
Resourced persons stressed on the need of the hour to set up Lokayukta in Nagaland.
The Youth Evangelist of KABA Bayavu Youth Fellowship chaired the programme while special numbers were presented besides the Praise & Worship team led by the Youth co-ordinator.
