Viketol Sakhrie
Commissioner and Secretary,
Information and Public Relations
On behalf of Bureaucracy of Nagaland
Apropos the opinion poll published in Morung Express of the 2nd July 2007 under the caption “Bureaucrats stall development in Nagaland”, this press note is being issued not in the form of a rejoinder but to set the records straight for the benefit of the society at large.
Bureaucracy has evolved as a means of division of labour when large scale works have been undertaken in a society. It is supposed to have been formalised in China when large irrigation projects were undertaken almost four thousand years ago. The modern definitions of bureaucracy is attributed to Max Weber who has defined the issues of division of labour, authority, structure, position and rules of individual member and type of rules that regulate. The bureaucracy essentially entails a working system with a set of laws, rules and regulation which societies have expanded into a plethora of systems.
There are many views about bureaucracy, some in the negative terms, such as the dysfunctional aspects of the bureaucracy especially red-tapism and some positive terms. The present views expressed in the Morung Express only focused on the negative. However, it has been the human experience that for the sustenance of democracy and freedom and governance through a rule of law, no matter how unwieldy the bureaucracy may be, there has been no other alternatives, except kingship, autocracy, dictatorship etc.
The present views as indicated in the said opinion poll of the Morung Express could therefore be taken, as a condemnation of bureaucracy and a biased reflection on the performance of the bureaucrats of Nagaland.
In this context like any other bureaucracy, in any other part of the world, the functioning of the bureaucrats can have varying levels of efficiency. However it would not be fair to judge or make sweeping statements condemning the bureaucrats of Nagaland in toto. This in fact reflects the entire society. Bureaucracy as per existing definitions, in fact comprises the top Executive down to the ministerial staff.
The judgment of whether the bureaucrats are stalling development has to be viewed from these aspects and for such controversial issues to be made public through a poll results would not be a fair nor justified unless it has been conducted in a manner acceptable as Opinion Polls. This is especially relevant when it is emanating from the Fourth Estate which is another equally responsible organ of the society including the governance systems.
The present poll paints a very dismal picture of the situation existing in Nagaland. It is not reflective of the tremendous development that has taken place in the last 44 years of our statehood. Roads have come up where only footpaths existed. Electricity and power lines have reached the villages where once not even lanterns had been known. Schools, hospitals, water supplies have been put into place and in fact Nagaland ranks 7th among the States of India in the National Human Development index. This has been no mean achievement given the fact that we started from scratch and particularly when such developments have taken place in an atmosphere surcharged by a violent political movement. The bureaucracy of Nagaland has endeavored in the face of tremendous challenges unlike in most other parts of the world and yet emerged as an effective vehicle of development which is continuing in the State.
Such sensitive and controversial Opinion Poll should be conducted by employing scientific and rational methodologies otherwise it would only amount to sensationalisation and on the other hand lead to demoralization of such sections of societies who are already working under very difficult circumstances.
It would have been appropriate if the newspaper had indicated the manner in which the present opinion poll has been conducted, for example, the number of views that have been solicited, the levels and strata of society that have been reached and how the opinion that 94 % of Naga societies felt that the bureaucrats stalled the development in Nagaland has emerged.
The bureaucracy of Nagaland, especially in the higher echelons are having a deep soul searching exercise and efforts are on to further improve the systems. The projected Opinion Poll has however, caused much hurt among many sincere and dedicated bureaucrats, who work under tremendous stress, tensions and pressures. It gives a feeling of rejection by society which is not a healthy trend if the intention of the present poll was an attempt to improve the situation.
Numerous novel systems and programmes for the masses which have been lauded, have been initiated and put in place. The evolution of the VDB as an institution, communitization and many other initiatives of the bureaucracy have received wide appreciation and recognition. Some of the major development initiatives and achievements especially in the recent years are:-.
(a) The completion of Sainik School, Punglwa with an intake capacity of 600. The academic session has commenced from 2007.
(b) Completion of prestigious Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima.
(c) Completion of Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Kohima.
(d) Completion of PHQ building.
(e) Industrial Growth Centre, Ganeshnagar has been completed.
(f) Hundreds of Youth and Entrepreneurs has been trained/employed through self employment schemes.
(g) Completion of the New Raj Bhavan.
(h) Development of urban infrastructure in all the District Headquarters.
(i) Revitalisation of Referral Hospital Dimapur
(j) Revitalisation of Likimro Hydro Electric Project
(k) Completion of many Directorate Buildings / Offices
(l) Construction and completion of a number of new roads and bridges.
Some of the other important development initiatives are:-
1. A policy on Organic cultivation has been adopted.
2. Nagaland Bamboo Policy has been framed and Mission launched.
3. Declaration of the Year of Youth Empowerment 2004-05/2005-06 and Special programmes thereof.
4. Declaration of Year of Farmers 2006-07/2007-08 and Special Programmes thereof.
This is just an illustrative list amongst numerous development initiatives and achievements. Could all these and many more have happened if the bureaucrats were stalling development in the State?
