Naga politics have been swamped by a lexicon of slogans covering a spectrum of issues from tourism to youth to peace and to music. While it is fair to state that such euphoric slogans are perhaps understandable and create a ‘feel good factor,’ it does nonetheless raise concerns of political reason and astuteness. Consequently, it touches upon dilemmas of relevancy and need. Hence the question; have these slogans moved towards a solution? After all, the icing on top does not make a cake; the real proof lies in the eating.
The Naga economy is unquestionably dependent on an interplay of various public sectors existing in an agrarian economy restrained to subsistence. Rather than having governments that should govern and business that should run businesses, the economy revolves a system in which governments run businesses and business are dependent on government contractual prerogatives. Invariably, these conditions lead to poverty. No matter what, the political rhetoric is unable to veil the gross inequities arising from such an economy.
It does make one wonder what and who the slogans are for? If indeed, these slogans and events are aimed towards integrating a healthier economy, the key to the future lies in the question, ‘healthier for whom?’ While it is true that good governance is aimed in making sure that everyone in the society benefits, and more so that the less privileged benefit relatively more, this however is not the case in Naga economy.
Such a situation is however not surprising when for more than four decades there has been in place a system of government that primarily centers not on governance, but on directing businesses and maintaining ‘law and order.’ Hence its functions are reflective of a hierarchical structure, even when its objective, is development. This central premise is revealed in the various ‘top-down’ developmental approaches of governmental institutions, which is further exemplified in static events that contravenes principles of development. Tragically, frequent events could result into public rituals, with no relation whatsoever to issues of development.
If indeed a government is sincere in its will to realize the development of a peoples, it needs to consciously adopt and adapt a ‘bottom-up’ development approach which begins with the grassroots. This demands the government to give up its business of doing businesses and to get down to the simple basics of governance. This does mean taking measures to conserve natural resources and to introduce progressive policies that empower people to define what development would mean for them and what is required for its realization.
In essence, to move from slogans to solutions, the priority could begin by reallocating resources away from multi-crore mega events, towards grassroots activities that will honestly start to address real issues that affect the quality of life.
