Covid-19 Pandemic Visa-Vis Economic Development in Nagaland

According to Professor Marshall ,”ECONOMICS IS THE STUDY OF MANKIND IN THE ORDINARY BUSINESS OF LIFE”. It is true and accepted all over the world. In India, all the detailed project reports submitted to various Ministries have to go through economic analysis.This is to find out whether the project is economically viable or not. Only an economist can do the economic analysis just like only the human doctor can diagonise a disease and prescribe right medicine and cure the sick.

The geographical area of NAGALAND is 16,579 square kilometers and the population is around 2 million which is less than the population of Karol Baght in Delhi.The Almighty God has blessed this tiny state with very fertile soil and salubrious climate. Whether the people of Nagaland are thankful to God or not? Those who have travelled outside Nagaland, will agree with me that Nagaland is like heaven on earth. Only our people are not so disciplined. This, I leave to all the readers of this article to ponder whether you love the Lord with all your heart, strength, soul and mind. Whether you love your neighbour as yourself.

During the time of barter economy, there was not much stealing, theft, robbery or unfair means of making rich. This may be due to lots of inconvenience in the trade and business becauase exchange of goods and services was heavy burdensome. Example, if you want a kg of potato you can give a kg of tomatoes and vise versa. Therefore, the economists did lots of research work and finally came out with a noble idea of currency notes. It is very easy to carry a bundle of two thousand rupees notes than to carry a kg of mangoes or a handful of coins to do your business. In this digital world, due to improved technology, now there is mobile banking, ATM Cards, Credit Cards which makes paperless transactions making life more comfortable.

The author has written a thesis on ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NAGALAND. According to fertility of the soil and productivity of the region, Nagaland has been divided into five ( 5) Economic Zones. Incidentally, I read in one book that the Father of Naga Nation A.Z.Phizo had suggested Naga Country into five States: North, East, South, West and Central Nagaland. This may be one of the reasons, today we read in the print media that there are different organisations like Central Naga Tribe Council, Eastern Nagaland Puplic Organisation, etc. Let us leave this.

The five Economic zones are : Peren and Dimapur area which is sometimes called rice belt of Nagaland. Southern Amgami Region specially Kuzama area where poatoes grow well. I have been told that during the peak season potatoes were sold even as low as rupees five per kg. Since potato is a perishable item and due to lack of cold storage, most of the products are taken to Imphal where there there is facility and resold in Nagaland during off season at INR 20 per kg or even more. Mima Village area has potential for honey bee keeping business. Wokha and and Zunheboto area can grow passion fruit, papaya, etc. soya beans which is good not only for fermentation (akhuni ) but good for producing soya milk which is very nourishing for health. Mokokchung, Longleng and Tuensang zone can grow cucumber, tomatoes, yam ,tea and kholar which is in great demand even in Star Hotels. Lastly, Mon and Kiphere region can grow yam, corn, maize, tea, etc.

For all round economic development, good road connectivity and transportation facility is necessary. Unfortunately, Nagaland road connectivity is on the bottom among the North Eastern States. Kiphere is ranked one of the most backward Districts in India.

Therefore, Nagaland Government can take advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic and avail the financial assistance of the Government of India to improve road connectivity, healthcare system and install the corona virus testing lab in all the 11 Districts Headquarter. This will not cost much as India has developed indigenous machine which less than INR 11 lakhs which can pay from the total allocation of INR 652.82 crore released in two installments. INR 51 crore levied from Petrol and Diesel, 1% labour cess from all the construction schemes,13% deducion at source by Finance department etc. Above all,out of the INR 20 lakh crore announced by the Honorable Prime Minister Modiji and released by the Honorable /finance minister, there is a large chunk of allocation for MSME
There are so many talented Nagas for establishment of micro enterprises.

Many Nagas can now construct RCC buildings. Nagas have been constructing our own footpaths all by voluntary labour contibution as bounden duty. Even widows contributed refreshment as they have to use the footpath to carry paddy, agri products, carry water and firewoods for cooking.During this Covid-19 pandemic The Government of India Has Lavished lots of money to all the states and union territories. So there is no paucity of fund for economic development and health care system

Lastly, I conclude with an example of the Swedish MPs which is very interesting :

The Swedish MPs have no assistants.No coffee. No high salaries. The Swedish Parliament has only three cars. They are used only on official occassions. The MPs are expected to use public transport.They are issued a yearly ticket. Until 1957, they were not paid for their job. Now, they get about SEK40,000 ( $4,300) a month. This is less than a Primary School teacher’s salary. The MPs cannot raise their own salaries. Apartments are provided for those from outside Stockholm. These are one room flats of 45 square meters with no separate bedroom. The apartments have no washing machine or dishwasher. The MPs are not allowed to let their friends or members of their family to stay over. If they want to invite someone for a night over, they must pay for it.

There are no waiters in the Parliament cafeteria. Every MP buys his/her own food and washes the dishes after use. MPs have no secretaries or assistants, every party gets certain allowances for secretaries but they can not be employed by any individual member. Swedish MPs have to plan their own schedules and answer their own calls. There are free newspapers and magazines in the Parliament building. They are there to be shared by all the members.The parliament has subscriptions to all leading media outlets.

While travelling,the MPs are supposed to chose the cheapest option. If they rent cars, they must chose the shortest possible routes. Any trip abroad, must cost a maximum of SEK 50,000 ($5,400). There is no lifetime pension for former MPs after retirement, for two years they receive 85% of their pay. However, they must still prove that they are looking for a new job. Regional politicians don’t ever have salaries.Their Political work is considered public good and as such unpaid. Public service in Sweden is neither prestigious nor lucrative. If this system is introduced in Nagaland, I wonder how many Naga Politicians will desire to contest in the coming Assembly Election Whether the ever increasing 90,584 educated unemployed youth in Nagaland are contemplating to introduce indirect system of Election in Nagaland.

A few years ago, there was a system of nomination of Area Council Chairmen in Nagaland. The public nominated the best leader to be their Area Council Chairman. This system had less expenditure, no killing, no booth capturing, no proxy voting and very transparent I think ,the pesent Chief Minister Shri Neiphiu Rio was once the Area Council Chairman. I remember him attending Kohima District Planning and Development Board meeting. In the meeting,he could present the problems and opinion of his area people.Since then, I was observing that one day, this man shall become great Naga leader. You see, my prediction has come true.

In conclusion, I hope this article has inigted all the people of Nagaland specially the younger generation to sit down and think who you are. Why God allowed you to be born in this world? What is His purpose? How do you relate this to build a clean and better Nagaland.In what economic zone you can take part and make Nagaland self sufficient. CNT has submitted a proposal for preparaion of master plan for all the townships in Nagaland for well plan Development of our Towns. CNT has all the qualified engineers, architects and city planners. We can change the whole outlook of NAGALAND.
KUKNALIM

Economist & City Planner
Dr. Toshimanen Ozukum Kohima
drtoshimanen.ozukum@yahoo,com