P Achumse Yingbithongrü
It is a well acknowledge fact that even after 59 years of attaining the statehood, development activities are nowhere to the expectation of the people of Nagaland. Besides many manifold, it is also because of siphoning of developmental funds by elected and non-elected representatives.
The funding agency monitoring body of GoI NITI AAYOG has declared Nagaland as the worst performing state for consecutive two years in a row. Though, there are some other reason also like inability of the state to generate its own resource, poor execution of the developmental projects, kickbacks for contracts and chronic corruption has completely derailed development in the state.
Within the state also, there is great disparity in development of Eastern part and Western part, where former is lacking far behind by decades in all developmental front as no serious attention, focus and priority has been given to develop this region by various successive State government. Basic developmental infrastructure like road, electricity and communication, social infrastructure like health and education facilities are still in a quagmire.
It is worth mentioning that social infrastructure in eastern part also cater to the requirements of our brethren Nagas’ from Myanmar side whose condition is even more worst thus, because of its geographical, social and cultural proximity- Myanmar Nagas also avail the facilities in health and education sector by virtue of Free Movement Regime (FMR).
However, due to lack of quality educational institutions, youths of the region are deprived from vocational skills which may give them employment. Shortage of opportunities often leads these youths to wander off from the mainstream leading them to join various nationalist political groups active in the region.
At times, these youths get involved in drug and arms trafficking trade due to its abundance in the peripheral Myanmar side. The chaotic situation in Myanmar because of civil unrest has led to hectic movement in and around the golden triangle and access to arms and drugs have become more easy and accessible.
Demand for arms have also risen due to the ongoing struggle by pro-democracy forces in Myanmar which is also been fought in Myanmar Naga hills area. This pro-democracy forces of Myanmar are also targeting our youths from the bordering areas naively these youths sometimes become prey to their design due to lack of any opportunities in the state.
This peculiar development in our Eastern neighbourhood has enhanced security concern that needs the attention of state security mechanism as well as GoI. These development are been manifested in terms of enhanced seizure of drugs by agencies of the state and neighbouring states of Manipur and Assam.
Further, general populace of the area from eastern region having merger income compared to brothers from western districts also have to share the burden of various sorts of unabated taxation collected by various nationalist political groups including from those based in Myanmar Naga hill.
Overstreched by these perplexities, Konyak Union (KU) have resisted these move and urged for unification of all Naga political groups to make demand bearable for people of the region. Civil societies from the region have also called upon various naga political groups to unite and put an end to excessive multiple taxation that has become unbearable for the people.
While development in eastern region is still in conundrum few developmental initiatives have been taken up after coming of Modi govt like proposal for construction of medical college at Mon district and selecting Kiphire as an ‘Aspirational District’. By virtue of been an Aspirational district it has had the privileged to get some projects like ITI Institute, residential schools and construction of new roadways under special schemes for North East.
These few development activities after years of neglect have reposed some faith in the minds of the people on sincerity of the Modi govt towards people of the region, which otherwise has been completely left out of any major development projects in the State. But again implementations of these projects are been delayed or held up for reasons unknown to the people.
So, in the backdrop of these development taking place, it may be expected that the current dialogue for solution of Naga political issues comes to conclusion at the earliest which will pave the way for honourable disarmament of armed groups as such the region may see new light of development in all front that has pervaded the region for decades. Such expectations are based on facts that this government profess to pay more attention to development of areas sharing international boundaries with neighbours.
It has also become imperative for GoI to give more impetus and renewed urgency to resolve Naga political issue without any delay in light of the new emerging security threats to the region and increasing proximity of Myanmar with China.
