Public feedback to the Morung Express’s suggestion platform shows that people in Nagaland have lost faith in the government. Beyond the usual complaints about poor roads and infrastructure, the responses point to deeper problems: distrust, favoritism toward the rich and powerful, and government offices that do not take action. A close look at this feedback shows that people do not want small fixes - they want a complete change in how the state is run.
The biggest issue is that people no longer trust the government. This is not just because services are poor, but because citizens feel the system works for politicians’ families and friends, not for the public. People are angry about unqualified relatives being given important jobs. This shows that loyalty matters more than skill, which weakens government institutions. Many also want the finance department to be taken away from the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, so power over money is not concentrated in a few hands.
Citizens want strict monitoring to make government offices work better. Suggestions include using biometric attendance and installing CCTV cameras in department head offices. People feel that without outside pressure, officials will not do their jobs properly. They also want a 360-degree performance review system, which would judge bureaucrats fairly from multiple angles. These ideas are not anti-government, they are demands for a more honest and punctual system.
Many are unhappy with student groups linked to political parties and want candidates for elections to have at least a Master’s degree. However, people also want fresh faces to get chances based on their work, not just on experience. This shows a desire to move away from family-based politics and tribal favoritism.
People support slow, steady development in districts outside Kohima and Dimapur, since resources are limited. They also rightly emphasize better roads and railways to boost the economy. But a sharp observation is that most people apply for government jobs just for stable income, not out of a desire to serve the public. This creates a culture where workers resist change rather than support it. Citizens also feel that young people only want to copy the current political leaders, not bring fresh ideas.
Ultimately, the feedback coalesces into a singular, non-negotiable demand: the inversion of the state-citizen relationship. Governance is no longer to be a paternalistic dispensation but a responsive mechanism where public resources are administered for exclusive public benefit. The call for think tanks and policy research underscores a need for evidence-based, independent oversight to guide and restrain political and bureaucratic actors. The citizenry has articulated a social contract wherein the government is the servant, not the master. Whether the political and administrative establishment possesses the will to heed this mandate and transform its own culture from within will determine if Nagaland’s development remains a deferred promise or becomes an actionable reality.
