Yiepetso Wezah
Mission Colony, Pfutsero
During the last State Assembly Election, all the political parties promised that they will bring development in the state. The pre-poll alliance of NDPP and BJP showed beautiful roads in their poster campaign. Probably that had attracted many people and voted them to power. However, people are yet to see such good roads. Nagaland State was formed on 1st December 1963 after Assam State. The rest of the North East states formed in 1972 and 1987. However, Nagaland State is far behind other states. It is high time to walk the talk. The Nagaland Government must bring radical change in four areas not from bad to worse, but from bad to good then the rest can be taken care by the citizens themselves. The four areas are as followed:
1. Good Roads: Thanks to the Central Government for sanctioning a huge amount of money for the construction and improvement of roads in Nagaland. The political power holders must judiciously use that money to construct good roads. That money should not go to the pockets of power holders.
As of now, Nagaland State has the worst roads among North East States. Tripura got its statehood on 21st January 1972. It has constructed pucca roads even to the remotest villages. They maintain their roads so well. Almost all the states have constructed good roads. However, Nagaland State is not able to maintain its existing roads. The citizens become victims of bad roads. Due to bad roads and hike of fuel price, the carrying charge of food commodities and construction materials become so high. Consequently the price of food commodities becomes sky-rocket. It affects the economy of common people. The State Government must wisely use the Central sanctioned money to construct good roads and improve the existing roads.
There is a saying, ‘if you want to become rich construct good roads.’ The State Government should construct good roads, set up gates and collect toll in order to maintain roads. Public will be happy to pay road tax because good roads will save their vehicles and Government can receive good revenue from it.
2. Good Educational Institutions: Manipur State was formed on 21st January 1972 nine years after Nagaland State got its statehood. However, Manipur State has two reputed Medical Colleges in Imphal. Whereas Nagaland State does not have even one Medical College. Where is the money sanctioned for Medical College in Nagaland? Medical and Engineering students have to pursue their studies outside the state because there is no Medical and Engineering Colleges in Nagaland. Thus parents are spending huge amount of money for their children’s education. Good Educational Institutions are the best industries in the world. Educational institutions generate employment; they mould and produce good human resources. They earn money not only for the proprietors, but also for the common people living nearby the institutions, for they do a lot of business from students, teachers and staff. Thus Government must set up good medical, engineering colleges and research institutions in the State. Good research institutions will bring many good students from outside to invest their wealth, education and skills in the State.
3. Good Healthcare System: There are many private hospitals coming up in the State. However, poor people cannot effort to go to private hospitals. At the same time, due to lack of healthcare system, many patients go to Imphal, Guwahati, Vellore and other states for treatment. In Nagaland Government Hospitals, there is hardly any free medicine given to patients. They only get free treatment. Private Pharmacies are set up in and around Government run Hospitals and patients have to buy medicines. Whereas in other states Government Hospitals, they collect only minimum registration fee and patients are provided medicines. The Government must seriously think for the welfare of poor people. Setting up good healthcare system will serve the citizens of the State.
4. Good Electricity: Without good electricity, there cannot be any improvement in economic, education and healthcare system. It is to be acknowledged that there is a little improvement in electrical power supply. However, many things must be done in regard to regular power supply. A big Hydroelectricity can be set up somewhere in Tizu River. Further, Solar Power could be set up. The State Government must work on the improvement of good and regular power supply to citizens and introduce pre-paid billing system so that it will earn huge revenue for the Government.
If the State Government provides good roads, good educational institutions, good healthcare system and good electricity, the rest of development activities for a better living can be taken care by the citizens themselves. Ministers and MLAs must think that they are the servants of the citizens of the State. They must love people and bring development to the people. It is good that chief guest culture is abolished. Now they must present themselves to citizens in persons and in the form of development. Otherwise they will be far away from the people and they would be of no value to the people. The citizens of the State expect the present Government will fulfill the promises in bringing real development.
Till today, the silence of the public has given so much advantage to political power holders and bureaucrats to take away development fund to do their personal development. It is also the duty of the citizens to pressurize the States Government to bring development. For they have been elected to power to do so and not to serve their own interests. If they misappropriate development fund, the public should raise their voice for it is their rights. Let us expect that the present Government will start bringing changes within a few months.
