Lt.Col.SI Jakhalu
1. This year 2014 has been an eventful year for Nagaland State as many important events have taken place ,which have captured the headlines of all local News Papers. To refresh memory summary of some important issues are enumerated below with comments.
2. Result of MP Election (Nagaland).Consequent to vacation of the post of Chief Minister by Shri Niephiu Rio on having elected as MP, there were few aspirant candidates for the post of CM. But it was amicably resolved through democratic procedure under which Shri, T.R Zeliang was elected as the new Chief Minister of Nagaland. During the above process, the elected leaders and other social and political organisations (Read- Tenimiyi-People’s Org, ENPO, CNTO, etc)have shown both their strength and weaknesses and tribes equation under the new dispensation have been disturbed. But good lesson learnt be respected.
3. MP Election Result in Manipur. It has been a disappointment for the Nagas as they could not elect their own representative inspite of they being the biggest tribe. This have exposed the harsh reality of their disunity and blocking their common objective of unification.
Nagaland Total Liquor Prohibition Act-1989.
4. Recently, the State Government has announced to hold a Special Session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly to discuss the above issue. This has drawn a sharp criticism from all sections of the society including Churches-both for and against the Act. But a vast majority are against lifting or relaxation of the Act,for reasons as stated below.
5. Lifting the Act will promote the growth of many evil things in the society and in personal life, which are also against the ethic of the Christianity. Besides, whether prohibition or no prohibition people who want and can effort to drink have been drinking and will continue to do so and nobody is being deprived of his/her right to drink due to prohibition.
6. Biblical Prospective. Since the theft in the Garden of Eden, God has given men, the freedom of choice between good and evil in all sphere of life. So let people chose for themselves either the path of life perseverance or path of self destruction.
But the Govt. of the day should not be seen as promoting men to choose the path of self destruction by way of lifting the Act. Which may also be seen as an act of testing God’s patience.
7. Loss of Revenue. Since the Act is already there in its place, let it remain so, though Govt may loss a few crores of rupees as annual revenue, but it cannot compensate for loss of a generation.
Absence from Duty Stations and Offices by Govt. Officials/Servants.
8. This issue have been there for a long time,and again have been brought out in public meetings by the present Chief Secretary,Nagaland-Smti Banuo Z Jamir,stating that the problem have been effecting the efficient function of the Government. But there have been no reaction on the issue raised, except student organisations in some Dists have reportedly inspected Govt.offices and submitted their findings,to Govt.for actions.
9. Reasons for Absence from Duty Stations/offices.There,are,Govt.Standing,Orders like, No-Work,No-Pay,etc. but same could not be enforced effectively, due to following reasons (Real,or,imaginary). .
(a) Firstly,Officers,responsible,to,enforce,the orders have either no moral courage to do so due to their own weaknesses or lack of confidence for support from their superior officers or both.
(b) Secondly, service of the Govt.,servants including unauthorised absence from duty are generally protected by their politician friends.
(c) Thirdly,Govt. officials-especially those posted to semi-urban and rural areas complained about non-availablity of basic amenities-like living quarter, recreational,facility,sanitation,transport and unfriendly attitudes of local people etc.
(d), Fourthly,reason generally given by those from development depts are that they have no work as no fund provided .
Reports of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.
10. They have brought out the irregularities and miss-management of fund in terms of multi crores of rupees. But it seemed that nobody took notice of it. It may be because such money freely comes from the above; or perhaps being a Christian State, people have forgiven each other in a reciprocal manner.
11. Under such circumstances, the Roles of the Accountant General-Nagaland (Audit) and the Vigilance Commission (Anti- Corruption Wing) seems to have lost their relevance But in other parts of the country, such reports have brought down high and mighty to their knees and sent to jails (read-BiharFooderScam,2-G Spectrum-Scam,Coalgate Scam, Common Wealth Game Scam, etc
Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation.
12. They have asserted that their activities is a people’s movement and one of their objectives is to bring all Naga Political Groups under one platform for the Naga cause. This is a positive approach, but if their goal of ‘one tax, one government’ is to be a reality, ACAUT needs to address the larger issue of Naga political solution.
Assam-Nagaland Border Disputes.
13. The cause of recent incident of land dispute in Ralan and Merapani Areas reportedly between land owners and tenants was due to non-payment of land taxes by tenants. This is an eye opening for people owning land/living in border areas that they should not introduce land tenency system on their own will. Effort should be made to use modern methods of cultivation. Because physical occupation of land will justify claim of ownership in any future dispute. Action taken by the Govt of Nagaland is appreciable.
14. Construction of Foot Hill Road. This will be a life line for Nagaland which has been delayed. Any irregularity detected should be settled in all fairness but the project should not be stalled in the best interest of general public.
15. Oil Exploration in Wokha Dist. This has been unduly delayed in Nagaland as if Nagaland is the first in the world for such project. But the world including Nagaland have been moving without oil from Nagaland and will continue to so. Therefore, people in authority should, without any personal interest attached to the project if any should follow the standard set by others and move forward. Again there are some problems raised by Students Union of Wokha Dist. regarding credibility of the Oil Company and location of oil refinery. Peren Dist. has also raised some objection. raised by, Peren District .They should be attended with all seriousness and take the project forward. Otherwise Nagaland will always remain backward economically, while the world will move forward without Nagaland’s oil.
16. Nagaland Special Development Zone.
Public are not clear about the concept of this scheme. But most probably it will be connected with oil exploration and construction of Foot Hill Road. While some are glamouring for the project others are apprehensive about people with vested interests. The majority views are that the scheme should be implemented but without surrending the rights of the Nagas guaranted by the Constitution of India.
The writer is Ex-DIG Home Guards/Secretary, Rajya Sainik Board, Nagaland
