Nagaland creates launchpad for Vision 2030

KOHIMA, JUNE 6 : Following the announcement made by Chief Minister TR Zeliang earlier in May that an “exclusive vision document” for Nagaland in line with India’s North East Vision 2020 and Act East Policy will be brought out within 2-3 months, the state government on Monday launched several open platforms so as to enable public to participate in the process of evolving a viable vision document for the state.

The platforms, officially launched today at the chief secretary’s conference hall by the parliamentary secretary for Planning & Coordination Neiba Kronu, include a website: www.nagalandvision2030.in, Facebook page: Nagaland Vision 2030, Whatsapp account: +918415856752, Email ID: nagalandvision2030@gmail.com , and Postal address: Nagaland Vision 2030, Capital Convention Centre (New Secretariat area), Kohima.
Talking to reporters after the launch, Kronu said the state government has decided to bring out a vision document with a 2030 perspective for guiding the planning and development processes of the state. He said the document will be an inclusive one involving the people and not based only on the views of the government departments. Towards this, he said, the government is soliciting views from all sections of the society- civil societies, tribal organizations, academic institutions, development NGOs, Churches, as well as from interested and concerned persons.

He informed that the process of putting together the vision document is to be completed by July 31 next.

While admitting that the state has myriad social problems that make major development activities difficult to take off, he is yet hopeful that with the participation of all stakeholders, a clear vision can be incorporated and a statement of action that can be translated into reality would be brought out.

The politician maintained that the vision document is going to play a vital role in taking the state towards the “right direction”. He pointed out that though the Nagas have a political problem, they have to continue to struggle how to uplift their economy and the political issue should not be a stumbling block towards achieving what is good for the people and the state as a whole.

On the perpetual landownership issue that seems to have hindered development activities in the past, Kronu said the Article 371 (A) of the Constitution which ensures the right to the people over their land and its resources is a blessing for Nagas. He felt that there is a need to understand the context and concept of this blessing so that it can be utilized for the benefit of the Naga people.

Supplementing to the politician’s statement, retired chief secretary & convener Nagaland Vision 2030 expert group Alemtemshi Jamir said there seems to be a broad misunderstanding when it comes to Article 371 (A). He remarked that the basic context of the Article is that the Parliament cannot act on the Naga people’s behalf nor can it encroach upon the rights of the community over their land and resources. He maintained that it is not an Act of impediment preventing the people from the process of commodifying their land, and rather, it only gives the people the right to utilize their land and its resources as they deem fit.

On the Nagaland Vision 2030 Document, Jamir stated that it would be a statement of existing realities and possibilities for the future based on the strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats, and envisage an action plan to achieve the possibilities. He also informed that his team would endeavour to formulate the vision document by July 31 so that it could be launched on August 15, coinciding with the Independence Day celebrations.

Jamir would be heading an expert group of secretaries including the chief secretary, development commissioner and APC among several other stakeholding department bureaucrats. It was learnt that Dr. Manoj Pant of JNU, an economic consultant who was instrumental in the framing of NE Vision 2020, has been appointed to assist in guiding the Nagaland vision document.

Meanwhile, it was informed that all the submissions are to be made by June 30, and due credit has been assured to contributors whose submissions are incorporated in the document.

A suggested template issued by the Vision 2030 team states that while there can be no set parameters or limitations for the submission of views and opinions, the contributions could be made on the broad basis as listed below: It should lay down the perspectives of what Nagaland can be within the time frame of 2030; It should outline the short term (3 years), mid term (next 7 years) and long term (15 years) perspectives and action plans to achieve perceived goals; It should address issues and work out a plan of action to tackle them, covering areas like evolution of an economy in the state in the form of improvement in production and productivity, services, trade and commerce etc.; designing an economic development model of Nagaland including the infrastructure that will create the enabling environment for achieving and sustaining the perceived economy of the state; addressing regional disparities pertaining to areas like the eastern Nagaland and bringing about equitable development in the state; human development issues with emphasis on youth employment and gender; spread of urbanization and addressing related concerns of urban development especially pertaining to livelihood, living environment and sustainability of the urban inhabitations; the ecology and environment and sustainable development of Nagaland; Focus on how the revenues of the state can be supplemented through internal generation, also focusing on the best approaches for judicious harnessing of human and natural resources to achieve the vision; Take into account the quantum of financial support that can be extended by the government of India including the process of devolution of funds to the states and cover the various aspects of the CSS and Central government policies, while keeping in mind the implementation of the ‘Look/Act East Policy’, NE vision 2020, the BBIM (Bangladesh Bhutan India & Myanmar) and IMT (India Myanmar Thailand) Agreements; Side by side the projections should also take into account the global economic scenario including investments in the state through multilateral and bilateral agencies, EAP as also FDI and private investment; Views on governance issues of the state with a focus on democratization, decentralization and participatory approaches to development that will enhance transparency and accountability, including views on VDBs, Communitization and urban bodies; With peace being a necessary precondition for any development, the formulation of the vision document is being envisaged to be made on the premise that the negotiated settlement would soon be in place.