Advocate Kezhokhoto Savi
Clean Election Activist
Early 2018 the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) in its first cabinet meeting took a bold decision in doing away with VIP culture bringing an end to VIP escorts except few designated, removing nameplates & parliamentary secretaries, ministers/MLA/government employees not to attend any functions as ‘Chief Guest’ and also not to donate and announce any monetary grants, not to receive any gifts/presentation except flower/bouquets in public functions, no presentations of wildlife & wild life produce prepare at functions for meals, etc.
Subsequently the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) extend its sincere appreciation and support to the bold decision taken by the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) in doing away with VIP culture which would not only benefit the Ministers/MLAs/government officials but it would be more beneficial to the common people as it would reduce the extract of public funds and allow the public funds to flow for all the projects be infrastructural developmental, human resource development, etc. We as people of the state must admit the fact that the nomenclature –‘Chief Guest’ is fondly used not only to extent respect but more on the expectation of getting money. In any function/feast/jubilee the community or any members attended the programme are not much concern about what does the chief guest speaks but more interested to enquire how much he/she donates. Several organisation/union firstly look for a person to be their ‘Chief Guest’ is ‘who can donate more money?’
Initially any sensible citizens of the state were happy for bringing a VIP culture to an end and expected to be a ‘win win’ decision where both the general public as well as politicians/public servants/rich businessman/contractor/govt. employees would be equally benefitted and not only taking away the VIP culture but also the ‘pride’ which was affecting our state economy. And also believes with the ‘hope’ that this decision would promote ‘Clean Election’ in our so called ‘Christian State’.
However, coming to the impact of the Cabinet decision in doing away with VIP culture the only success was nameplates was no more practice and the nomenclature ‘Chief Guest’ was hardly used but with the nomenclature such as ‘Special Guest’, ‘Guest Speaker’, ‘Guest of Honour’, etc simply replace it and the same old practices continue and no difference with the nomenclature ‘Chief Guest’ rather it became more worse and the presentation of gifts includes expensive full traditional dresses and attires, handicrafts, Naga gate, several eatables such as vegetables and many more items of locally available of gifts are display in row, etc.
The nomenclature ‘Parliamentary Secretary’ which was equivalent to state ministers was remove but another nomenclature ‘Advisor’ was replace and even several non-legislators were also appointed as Advisor to the rank of state ministers and cabinet ministers and more interestingly several non-government employees were also appointed with several nomenclature enjoying monthly salaries from state government exchequer at the rank of commissioner & secretary/secretary/joint secretary/deputy secretary to the Govt. of Nagaland. Another success was banning VIP escort except designated ones but on the other hand the general public consisting public organisation/tribal bodies/unions, etc. continually promoting VIP escort take for instance in a public organisation jubilee it was arranged in such a way that besides official escort the ‘Special Guest’ is escorted by 50 motor bikes and few open vehicles in full traditional dress and attire covering the entire stretch of busy main road to signify ‘Golden Jubilee’. These are the practices which compelled the so called ‘Special Guest’/’Guest Speaker’/Guest of Honour to donate money and announce monetary grants.
However, it is still not too late to effectively implement the cabinet decision in doing away with VIP culture as it would surely help to promote ‘Clean Election’ as Nagaland State General Legislative Assembly Election is approaching. Let us stop blaming each other for the past mistakes but realisation is more important that every eligible voter is responsible to contribute towards ‘Clean Election’ for a better society and a brighter future. We are all aware that the root cause of corruption is election where the contesting candidates are make to spent huge money and the illegal/unfair means of practices such as buying or selling votes, threatening, huge supply of liquor, booth capturing, proxy voting, government employees involves in campaign, instances where the citizens/voters are not allowed to vote freely/fairly, etc. The conduct of fair election would promote the society and it is solely depending on us as every eligible citizen has the right to vote and it is one’s ‘Birth Right’. The time has come for every citizen to realise that one’s vote decides the fate of five years and beyond. We need a legislator who is people friendly and ready to sacrifice for corrupt-free not only in words but in deeds and not someone thirst of power and greed for money. Every voter must realise that we are responsible for the kind of present government as we have contributed by taking part in the conduct of election. Let us not vote a leader who would ruin our society.
However, a social activist Kezhokhoto Savi challenges the citizen of the state that we can bring a corrupt-free government in this democratic system of government but this is possible only when the conduct of election is ‘CLEAN’ and the best opportunity would be the forth coming State General Legislative Assembly Election.
