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Nagaland has come a long way when it comes of economic development since the attainment of statehood in 1963. In the meantime, the state also has a long way to go to be on par with other Indian states, especially in terms of infrastructure development with the interior regions still lacking basic amenities like all-weather road and healthcare facilities. Owing to huge economic disparity between the people living in rural areas and urban centres, people from countryside have been moving to bigger towns, especially to state’s capital city Kohima and Dimapur. It is natural for people to look for greener pastures- either for education, business or better facilities. These two main urban centres of the state are also home to most government offices, educational institutions and commercial establishments. Urbanisation will only increase with disparity widening and several projects, including the ambitious four-lane road project between Dimapur and Kohima likely to ease trade. These places may be developing faster than other towns in the state economically but they lag behind villages on several counts- the most important being human development.
Despite high literacy rate and many posh localities, Dimapur and Kohima recently featured in the list of India’s dirtiest cities with population ranging from one to 10 lakh, according to Swachh Survekshan 2020 (Cleanliness Survey 2020). The state’s commercial hub is not getting better and may make it to the list of dirtiest cities once again if the public do not co-operate. The administrator of Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) had recently pleaded the citizens not to throw litters into the streams that run through the city. It speaks volumes. The DMC may have its limitations but it is obvious that cleanliness drives and awareness programmes on importance of hygiene have failed to move the citizens even an inch as waste issue continues. Shop owners don’t care to keep their vicinity clean and people continue to spit anywhere and everywhere in spite of the Covid-19 threat looming large.
Kohima is no different. Keeping garbage issue aside, the state capital city has been in news for all the wrongs reasons of late. It was reported that flower pots that were donated by several concerned citizens towards the “green line” campaign to beautify the city as well as sensitise the public on the importance of sanitation, civic sense and clean surroundings, have been stolen on a few occasions. Now, Kohima Smart City Development Limited has said that flower plants that were planted along the roadside under Kohima Smart City Mission were also stolen. These incidents clearly indicate that there are a handful of not-so-smart people in this smart city. While there are black sheep in every society, we seem to have overlooked human development in our pursuit for economic development and personal well-being. We have a reason to worry if such acts are an offshoot of the emergence of class system based on economic and social status which is visible in our society. This calls for the need to take everybody along in the quest for development- involve the citizens in public work and create a sense of belongingness through participation. Human development should be our ultimate goal and not economic development.