Meyabi A Niphi
Duliajan, Assam
Of the 18,000 odd Nagas stranded outside and registered on the State Government (Iamstranded) portal wanting to return to their homes, it has been reported that 13,483 returnees have already arrived home as on 17th June, 2020 according to the dailies. They are undergoing the mandatory institutional and home quarantine as per COVID-19 protocols. What we are not sure yetis the number of remaining Nagas who have chosen to stay back. As reported in the papers, it appears that the number of registrations on the portal took a leap when the Government announced a one-time assistance of Rs 10,000 each to those stranded Nagas in other states if they choose not to return at the moment due to insufficient quarantine facilities and COVID-19 testing centres in the state (between 23rd-26th May, 2020). Many would have changed their minds to return considering the uncertainty prevailing over the emergent situation. I am sure they too will be returning home in the next few weeks or months.
Back home, while the Government of Nagaland along with frontline COVID-19 warriors, local bodies and Churches etc are putting all out efforts to contain the spread of the virus, an issue that is becoming very apparent is the increasing number of unemployed youths in Nagaland. Where or what will they go and do after the institutional and home quarantine?While all of us wish, hope and pray that normal times return soon, the point of concern is whether there are avenues and spaces enough to accommodate this huge unemployment? Imagine the plight of the state and community that has to now accommodate the thousands of unemployed youths…no job, no employment, no source of earning and hence no productivity. This simply implies zero or non-utilization of available labour resources for economic development. In determining the productivity scale of our naga economy, it is not sufficient to take into account only those who are already employed or self-employed while leaving out the headcount of the many unemployed youths who cannot be engaged in any gainful employment. This as a huge productivity loss for the Naga economy.
If normalcy does (not) return, what will they be doing over the next few days, weeks or months? During the early part of nation lock down, we also saw on social media, some youths camping in the jungles hunting wild life, catching fishes and plucking wild vegetables etc.Even in normal times we can speak about people cutting down timber, boulders, sand etc. There is nothing that money cannot buy these days. It appears that the easiest way to sustain a living is to pluck out the feathers of Mother Nature. However, nature’s gift of resources may not last very long for the Nagas if this rampant destruction for personal gain goes on unabated.
Among all the material resources, unquestionably, the greatest resource is LAND which we Nagas hold on to very dearly. In a book Topsoil and civilization by Dale and Vernom Gill Carter, 1955, I quote, “…Civilised man was nearly always able to become master of his environment temporarily. His chief troubles came from his delusions that his temporary mastership was permanent. He thought of himself as ‘master of the world’, while failing to understand fully the laws of nature.
Man, whether civilized or savage, is a child of nature-he is not the master of nature. He must conform his actions to certain natural laws if he is to maintain his dominance over his environment. When he tries to circumvent the laws of nature, he usually destroys the natural environment that sustains him. And when his environment deteriorates rapidly, his civilization declines….”. In short, land carries the topsoil, and the topsoil carries an immense variety of living beings including man! We should not leave a desert in our footprints…” unquote
This, to me is a disturbing factor which could be the symptom of a larger social crisis looming in the near future if not addressed with urgency - the ‘novel COVID-19 upheaval of Naga Society’. It has exposed and revealed to us where exactly we stand as individuals, family and as a society at large. Let us take this with a pinch of salt. In general, the returnees can broadly be categorized into two groups. The first group can bethe organized Naga community living outside Nagaland (students, academicians, service holders, patients, travelers and professionally employed etc.) for whom they are of less worry. However, the second group of returnees comprising of the (rather) unorganized naga community- employed in skilled, semi-skilled or unskilled job is a cause of concern. Many of them are engaged as waiters, salespersons, security etc. in city malls, beauty parlors, restaurants, hotels, factories etc. Until now, nobody really took notice of this huge number nor did they really matter because as long as they could earn a living in whatever way, it was good because they could lighten the burden of the prevailing large scale unemployment. However, COVID-19 pandemic has really opened our eyes. We now know them even through the watchful eyes of social media. This will make a good case study for anyone to research on ‘urban rural divide’ in Nagaland.
Now after going through all the lockdown ordeal and hardship, I fear if anybody in his right sense will decide to go back to the metros and cities once the system normalizes.In such a scenario, how long can the Government keep on feeding so many lives without giving them any gainful employment? Let us realize that economic activities can only lead to economic development.
In layman’s parlance, economic development is primarily about getting more work done which comes if the following four essential conditions prevail:
• First, there must be motivation i.e. self-drive to acquire skills and build capabilities in order to make a living and sustain his life. By the sweat of his brow and not dependent on others.
• Second, there must be know-howi.e. acquiring and upgrading skills and knowledge for application.
• Thirdly, there must be capital to work on such as equipment, plants, factories, industries whether micro, small, medium or large scale enterprises … of creating avenues for employment.
• Fourth, there must be an outlet whereby finished products come out for the customers.
Nagas are blessed to be Christians. In almost all cases, every single Naga belongs to and is a member of a Church. I feel the Church can take more initiatives to develop skills and enhance capabilities of its members to be self-sufficient and responsible citizens. The Church can play a vital role in supporting the Government towards economic development (as is being demonstrated in the fight against the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic).Activities that lead to employment generation and self-employment etc.
I feel this is an opportune time for the concerned authorities to frame up long term strategies to address the issue of unemployment in our already starved economy. It is high time we begin looking at economic activities that will engage local unemployed youths gainfully. Our independence will be the day when we are economically liberated from the bondage of unemployment. By and large, in the context of Nagaland, given its distinctive history and forms of social life; perhaps what will be most relevant for Nagaland is an ‘endogenous development strategy’ that can adapt to local conceptualizations of well-being. A strategy for development that acknowledges, empower and utilizes the indigenous skills, knowledge and resources which will also strengthen the valuation of our unique history, traditions and culture. The end result of such economic activity (in the form of indigenous products) can meet the requirements of larger industries, companies and establishments in the region. This in turn can provide both direct and indirect employment and promote entrepreneurship. Such an endeavor will also fulfill the State's obligation to its citizens as stated in Article (43) of the Directive Principles of State Policy.
In conclusion, as we now step into a challenging ‘new normal’, let us take this opportunity to also blaze a trail towards accelerating economic activities for development. Until then, STAY SAFE. STAY HEALTHY.STAY GAINFULLY EMPLOYED.
The writer is a Dy Gen Manager (Administration- Frontier Basin), Oil India Limited
