Former Nagaland CM Dr. SC Jamir says having too many districts can backfire

Former Chief Minister Dr. SC Jamir on Friday lamented Nagaland being fragmented into so many districts though a small state, saying that a day will come where it will be difficult to manage.

Speaking at the launch of RoyalOak store in Dimapur, Jamir said having too many districts can become a big problem in the future.

“After demanding sovereignty, we are demanding districts. What kind of mentality has gone into the minds of Naga people?” he asked, adding ‘we should know that administration can be carried out only when we have manpower and areas, instead of copying from others’.

He said that everyone is talking about development and politics but nothing is happening because “we are only mimicking other people”.

Just because some other big states with huge population are creating new districts, Nagas are mimicking them instead of thinking about what is relevant and applicable for Nagaland, he said.  “Nagaland was originally a district of Assam, but now we have many districts, and how are we going to manage in future?” he asked.

He stressed on the need of evolving a system for effective and efficient governance instead of imitating others. Everyone is only talking but there is total absence of concern for the people and truth in the communication, he added.

On Naga youth

Jamir is of the opinion that the younger generation is much wiser than the old. He said youngsters know what is happening across the world but “we have not been able to provide space in Nagaland to allow our younger generation to play their role”; that they want to move forward but they are like in a cage.

The Naga situation and environment is such that many youths want to do good things and move forward but they are always pulled back, he said.

“Nagaland is like the land of blind people where everyone, who want to speak truth and move forward and talk about unity, are not welcome, and the situation is compelling those people to stay blind,” he said.

Jamir reiterated that there is rapid development especially in science and technology reformation but Nagas are unfortunately obsessed only of the past.

He reminded that the older generation of Nagas in the past started freedom movement for home and for the Naga people where they dreamt of a united peaceful progressive, prosperous Nagaland and had to sail through stormy weather during this political pilgrimage.

“And during these long years of political struggle, the world has completely changed, and what was relevant 20 years back is not relevant today because the lifestyle and thinking process and the way we approach problem is completely different,” he asserted.

It is time for Naga people to come out of the cocoon and try to fly like any other citizens of the civilised world, he added.