Imkong Walling
Like most other issues in Nagaland, the ongoing squabble over the Nagaland state government’s move to relocate the Dimapur district Deputy Commissioner’s office, in all likelihood, would drag on.
To people following the issue, the moot point is clear— one side wants the DC’s office to remain within the Dimapur ‘Sadar’ area, the other wants it moved to the new designated location with the state government, which made the decision to move, caught in between.
The non-governmental parties have also been clear on the respective justifications, with ‘public convenience’ as a common refrain, emerging from both sides. If the office is moved to the new location, one party claims that it would inconvenience the residents within the sadar area. The other claims the government’s move is justified as the new office complex is centrally situated that would be convenient for all residents. Well, that’s the overt display of validations.
One that is not being displayed is the tribal undertone the issue has taken on. Though it is not being admitted by any of the parties, signs of a battle line being drawn between two blocs is obvious—a contrasting reminder of a seemingly unbroken Naga contemporary tribal polity.
Fear and mistrust is apparent, that of one community or party dominating the office of the district administrative head, a syndrome deeply ingrained in the tribal psyche. And this is a sad trend – parties grouping into blocs – observed in other spheres of the Naga polity.
The situation is not being helped by a state government and its legislators, who are without doubt worried about electoral prospects.
There is also the unmistakable sign of governmental lethargy and other interests of the powers that be. It took way too long to build the DC office with two different Chief Ministers having differing visions, resulting in the construction of two office complexes, which also implied greater expenses at the cost of the exchequer.
The former was abandoned by the succeeding CM and by the time the project took shape, power had changed hands at the CM's office. The old site was abandoned and a new one sanctioned in a different location.
Further, by the time the complex at 7th mile took shape, social media had happened enabling big time exchange of opinions, implying stronger public opinion irrespective of intent.
Underneath the hullabaloo, two things are clear— fissure in a tender Naga social fabric and governmental apathy. The state government should have acted early rather than wait for over two decades to make the move.
The writer is a Principal Correspondent at The Morung Express. Comments can be sent to imkongwalls@gmail.com
