M.P. Radhakrishnan
Kohima was rather was uneasy. Bangkok talks between Central Government representatives and Naga Socialist Council of Nagaland on the extension of ceasefire were still deadlocked. The ceasefire was to expire the next day and there were apprehensions as to what would unfold the next day. I was visiting Nagaland along with a small group of journalists from Kerala to see first hand the progress in the implementation of various development programmes launched with Central assistance.
By the afternoon next day, i.e. 1st of February 2006, there was perceptible hinge in the situation. The NSCN (IM) agreed to the extension of ceasefire by another six months. There was a relieved look on the faces of the people. I am narrating this experience only to point out how dearly the ordinary people in Nagaland want the ceasefire and the resultant peace to continue. For long they suffered the dark days of insurgency. The ceasefire has been holding good for over 10 years and the peace that followed has helped the administration in bringing development works back on the rails. On our visit to the interior places in Kohima, we were in fact quite surprised to see ordinary people in villages actively involving themselves with the running of Government services and institutions.
Innovative Scheme
They were in fact participating in an innovative scheme where the village community is given the responsibility of day-to-day administration of public institutions and services. Launched in 2002, this scheme called “Communitisation of Public Institutions and Services” is now being successfully implemented in sectors like Elementary Education, Primary Health, Rural Electrification and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation.
The essence of communitisation lies in delegating certain management responsibilities and powers of the Government to the community. The community, through the Village Committees, will manage the institutions and facilities created by the Government for them. Freed from day to day management of primary schools, health centres and other services, Government concentrates more on monitoring and supporting the programme. In sectors like Primary Education, Rural Health and Rural Electrification, the communitisation concept has paid rich dividends. Seeing the success of the programme, the Nagaland Government has decided to communitise all public elementary and primary schools. 409 primary schools in 216 villages were communitised by 2005-06.
Case of Khonoma
Take the case of Khonoma, a typical Angami Village in Kohima District. After the introduction of the scheme in the four Government schools, there is a marked improvement in all educational aspects. Selhu Terhuja, a primary school teacher, says the village community is now deeply involved in the education of its children. The enrolment has increased manifold and academic results show remarkable improvement. Another aspect is that teachers attend to their job more regularly as Village Education Committee is empowered to deduct salary from errant teachers. The deducted money can be utilised for renovation and repair of school building.
The Deputy Development Commissioner, Mr. Oyung, says the concept has now taken deep roots. He said the administration and running of Government schools have improved a great deal after transferring these powers to the Village Council, and its Education Committees. Similar is the case with Primary Health Sector. After communitising this sector, staff attendance and medicine availability in Health Centres have improved dramatically. Community participation has also been instrumental in making several Government initiatives in the social and cultural sectors a success. Tourism Department’s initiative to transform Khonoma village into an eco-friendly green village is a shining example of this cooperation. The whole community adopted the green village concept by painting their houses and roof tops green. The community also prohibited the felling of trees and banned hunting which used to be a favourite pastime of Nagas to show their valour and pride.
Community Farming
The success of community farming in Khonoma village is also well known. Through effective utilization of available water, the villagers produce not only paddy but garlic and potato, some quantity of which they sell in Khonoma market. Seluhu Chase, a villager, who works in the Deputy Commissioner’s office says there is no one in the village without land and the community produce enough food for its needs. The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, during his visit to Khusama Village in Nagaland some time ago observed that communitisation of public, educational and health institutions would automatically bring about accountability and a sense of responsibility and belongingness to the people.
Decentralisation Model
The whole State of Nagaland is now being brought under this experiment and this could well become a model for the whole country to follow. But for such projects to succeed it is paramount that the State is free from all sorts of violence so that people can participate in the development process without fear. While other States have now begun decentralization through Panchayat Raj system, it is the credit of the people of Nagaland that they have fashioned a much more effective method to streamline the public services and institutions with active cooperation of the village community.
Director (Public Relations), PIB, Thiruvananthapuram
