The 2016 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on the Social, Economic, Revenue and General Sectors for the year ending 31 March 2015 of the Government of Nagaland that was tabled on March 19, 2016, during the Budget Session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly is damning. The Report identified specific anomalies, fraudulent fund withdrawals, pilfering, lack of planning, absence of rigorous monitoring mechanisms, poor maintenance of records, financial losses by departments and discrepancies in recovery among other failures of the Nagaland State Government.
By bringing to public expression the overall performance of the Nagaland Government, the CAG confirms people’s assumptions and allegations of bad-governance and abuse of political and financial power in Nagaland State.
What is further disturbing has been the alleged attitude of the Nagaland State Government. The CAG has termed the government’s response as “obnoxious,” and pointed out that instead of discouraging such “blatant malpractice,” the government is trying to “legitimize/cover-up the matter and even going to the extent of encouraging offence.” In doing so, is the Nagaland State Government defying the basic tenets of democratic governance and also violating the public trust put on them by the people?
The fact however remains that this is only a symptom of a much deeper predicament. The source of this domineering and corrupt system needs to be identified. Actually, it can be traced back to the formation of Nagaland State in 1963, which came through the 16 Point Agreement of 1960 between the Government of India and the Naga People’s Convention.
While a State is usually a result of an informed and inclusive political, and social contract between peoples, the Nagaland State was formed through an Agreement as part of the broader counter-insurgency policy to fracture the Naga movement. Hence, Nagaland State was not the result of an informed and participatory political contract between the Nagas and the Indian State. By this very nature, a certain degree of State impunity was already inherent in its foundation. Charles Tilly reminds us that war made States and States in turn made war. If we look carefully, the formation of Nagaland state is a classic example of the link between State Building and War Making.
In light of this historical event and in the face of rapid fundamental changes, the Naga society has moved away from its base of evolving inherent course. Consequently, the people of Nagaland State are conditioned to submit to authority without questioning it. Furthermore, the society has been turned into one of isolated individuals and groups that are unable to work together to achieve justice and freedom, to confide and stand in solidarity with one another, or even to do anything at their own initiative.
As a result, civil institutions have become weak and are facing a crisis of self-confidence in their ability to sustain an effective nonviolent resistance. Invariably, the public, in their isolation, are often too afraid, even troubled to think seriously of publicly resisting the powers that be which leaves them in the margins alone to suffer without purpose and with a diminished sense of hope.
The revelations of the recent CAG Report have implications on fundamental issues of human freedom, democratic governance, political liberties, and economic well-being, all of which are wrapped up around the people’s future development.
The guile of the State cannot be underestimated. In recent months a number of protests on public issues such as backdoor appointments, scholarships, and non-payment of salaries have been kept in abeyance on the assurance that they will be addressed. However, when promises offered by the State during negotiations, remember that the State may promise anything to secure submission and obedience, and then audaciously violate the same assurance. Bear in mind that words don’t mean the same thing to everyone, for example, not everyone who uses the word “peace” wants a justpeace with equality, freedom and dignity.
Given these present realities in Nagaland State and in light of the recent CAG report findings these conditions offer an opportune moment for a nonviolent initiative to emerge that will empower people to break down barriers driven by fear that separate and divide, and overturn their habit of obedience to authority. Such an initiative will rely upon the people’s determination to stand together and form new relationships, organize and mobilize themselves into a self-reliant people’s movement based on intelligent strategies and disciplined tactical decisions that take into account both short-term and long-term measures.
Eventually, such an act of political defiance by the people will depend on their desire, their determination, collective ability and commitment to liberate themselves from this unjust status quo.
