The trick to keep scoring against corrosive issues facing us today, people, is to keep playing long after the stipulated stoppage-time. Stop, and they play against us......
Scientist still haven’t established what exactly makes soccer dinosaurs like Pele and Maradonna inspire Naga youngsters to take to the pitch like crazed energy bags. However, researchers are suspecting the reason might be football.
Anyway, leave alone Naga youngsters and football, even my dear old Mom finds it convenient that the ongoing FIFA craze be examined thoroughly on the screen straight up till 2:00am. She has some problems differentiating soccer from Taekwon-Do though. In Nagaland, we decidedly don’t require yearly reminders of Royal Gold Cups: we pursue football with passion typical of African Baboons. The pitch can be a testimony of that when Nagas kick about. Yes, kick about. Of course, we also kick the ball occasionally. Break-dancing jaws, blackened eyes, bruised elbows, yoga-friendly teeth and cracked shins are only a small sacrifice for the pleasures of soccer. ‘Kicking the balls’ can be a tad too literal in Naga soccer though! …and complement that passion with a spoonful of Axone, a dose of Bastenga, two fistfuls of Anishi and a plate of Khalo and lo, Nagas are the nuttiest football fans this side of Real Madrid!
No wonder, in a state like Nagaland where power supply is synonymous to total lunar eclipses that transforms us all into raving-loonies, the people hung tensed if electricity would go all disco-lights like during the previous world cups. However, 2006 Germany has emerged the best in years, with minimum eclipse-adventures. Thanks to the local media, with the convenient cooperation of the State power department, for propagating responsible power consumption. And of course, those power consumers who evidently felt a responsibility and exerted whatever effort they could to minimize power exit-channels. Notwithstanding the satisfaction of a blackout-free Brazils versus Germanys –which are temporary I should remind, though –what we, as cultured, socially-conscious, educated citizens must ever keep reminded is that true freedom means unwavering responsibility. At all times.
The perspective of responsibility can be rationalized, albeit a tad too idealistically in the context of electricity, thus: I have the freedom to utilize to the maximum all modern facilities I own by virtue that they were obtained through my personal capacity and resources. But when my utilization becomes party to the factors that consequently impacts my neighbor’s welfare, I have violated the responsibility I should have maintained. Simply, you can play your Hi-fi Music system, it’s your right. But you would be violating your freedom when the ear-blaster shakes your neighbor out of his 3:00am dream. I have every reason to believe that even in the context of public amenities we have been irresponsible – and unconcerned –far too long.
It can be safely assumed that our sense of civic responsibility is whimsical: must we amplify the issue of the pitiable power situation only during soccer or cricket world cups? Or when blackouts occur during a particularly exciting Kasauti episode? The cascading drone of a thousand Naga throats shouting/moaning/groaning at a blackout during a soccer match apparently presents a picture of Naga unity, but then our sense of responsibility, and most importantly accountability, would be measured only after the match is over.
Pity the government that pays
Nagaland is the only State in the country with the highest percentage of commercial loss incurred in the power sector. Power officials told this paper that the Government of Nagaland spends about Rs.73 Crores approximately in purchasing electricity and conversely, incurring a gross loss of about Rs. 35 Crores yearly thanks to all inconsiderate indulgences, from power theft to irresponsible domestic power consumption. They lamented that against the normal commercial loss percentage permissible which is between 15% and 20%, the power sector in Nagaland incurs an annual loss in excess of about 30%from the cut-off percentage permissible. Total losses account for about 58% of the aggregate. Latest statistical figures suggests that the Nagaland Government spends about Rs. 73 Crores purchasing power directly from the national grid of which only about Rs. 34 Crores are received in terms of revenue (average) while losses in excess of Rs. 35 Crores are incurred.
Nagaland Commissioner and Secretary Talitemjen Toy had said earlier that the losses were due to rampant power theft by consumers who lift electricity without being aware that power theft is against the law and a punishable offence. “Part of the problem can be attributed to poor grid capacities however the losses are due to overloaded transformers as a result of direct hooking from the distribution lines. They constitute about 20% to 50% (of the reasons why the commercial losses are in excess)” the Commissioner had lamented. He was of the view that consumers are pilfering power without being aware of the legal as well as commercial implications involved. Another top Government functionary blamed “blundering power consumers” for the extreme loss percentage, which exert pressure on power grids for which genuine power consumers suffer.
The State presently requires about 75 Megawatts to facilitate sufficient and full power supply to genuine consumers but is currently depending on about 55 to 60 Megawatts which had also turned out to be insufficient since “almost 66% of the population in Nagaland is stealing power supply from the wires and electricity posts”, the officials observed.
