A Herculean Task Before The New Government Of Nagaland

While congratulating the newly-formed People Democratic Alliance Government led by one of the senior-most and dynamic leader of the state, Shri. Neiphiu Rio, the newly-elected Chief Minister of Nagaland, I would also like to state that the NDPP party’s motto, “Deeds, not words” impressed many and many more appreciatedthe NDPP-BJP alliance’s election slogan, “Change is coming”.Therefore,with faith and belief, the people have elected the new government into power. Likewise, the same people have high expectationsfor an early Naga Political Solution and not forgetting, development being brought to our villages and door steps, as promised.

In my observations, a ‘Herculean task’lies before the newly-formed People Democratic Alliance Government to be hammered as follows:-

1. Road & Communication: Our State’s National Highways, State Highways and the Districts and sub-divisions connectivity which are in an evidently deplorable state needs to be looked uponimmediately, first and foremost. The public may not mind even if the government utilises 50% of the State’s budget for providing good roads and communications, in letter and spirit, if utilised judiciously. Therefore, for one or two financial years more budget allocation may be made for repair / maintenance of our existing road connectivity.
2. A new development formula: For many years, the state or the nation’ssystem of development has been urban-centric and real development could not reach the dire needs of the people in rural areas. Therefore,a new development formula wherein the focus of development should move from the urban to the rural areas is required to allow development to move from rural to urban areas. An equitable and balanced development of all regions of the state can be slowly achieved to contribute towards enabling the development of the whole country.
3. Good Governance: Good governance requires high standards of transparency and accountability, which are dependent on a proper system with strict rules and regulations. Only then justice can be truly delivered to the people.
4. Financial Management System needs to be reviewed. The present financial management system become not only become stagnant but have also become quiteconfusing as we neither follow the old rules and procedures nor make new rules befitting to the new times. Therefore,in such a state, it has become confusing and puzzling for the implementing authorities such as the State’s Budgetary System, Drawal authority orders, Civil deposits system, distorted Accounting system etc as a result of which government money has no security and corruption is flourishing in the state.

Therefore, the state’s financial management system requires to be thoroughly reviewed.

1. Job Reservation Policy: The present system of job reservation for the backward tribes is proving itself to be an unfair and unjust system as the actual-targeted people are not getting the benefits of the job-reservationprovisionsbut the policy has become a monopoly of a few advanced families amongstthe backward tribes educated and raised comfortablyin urban areas but not reaching to the targeted people for upliftments. Therefore it may be suggested that reservationbe not done plainly on tribal basis but to identify areas or villages where ever jobs reservation and upliftments is required, so that ‘backward’ tag can be removed in due time.
2. Recruitment policy: The recruitment policy may follow a3(three)-tier systemvizNational-level (UPSC), the State-level (NPSC) and District level through a District recruitment board.
3. For all Gazetted posts, the recruitment should strictly be doneonly through the state level NPSC exam with a ‘new job reservation policy’.
4. For all non-gazetted post vacancies, recruitment should be done through a District-level Recruitment Board exam and Staff Selection Board exam in the like and manner of Staff Selection Committee Exams at the centre. At the district level recruitment, an equitable-tribal reservation policy may be strictly implemented so that equal opportunity and justice can be delivered to every community without discrimination, favour or nepotism.

• The state government should make anoptimistic policy of sponsoring at least a 100 deserving candidates every year for National-level Competitive Exams coaching at the best coaching institutes in the country with a target to produce 5-10 IAS, IPS, IFS, IFoS, IES and other allied services every yearso that the state can produce good number of tallbureaucrats to serve in the state instead of borrowing from other states.

1. Departmental Promotion Committee(DPC): State Government departments should conduct a Department Promotion Committee sitting at least once in a year or within 6 months for undertaking promotions to fill up vacancies, regularization of deserving Ad-hoc, contract appointments and confirmation of services regularly in order to prevent backlog, hierarchical and organizational gap and lapses, supersession cases and most-importantly back-door appointment in respective departments.
2. Proper utilization of the state employees:The government should make and implement better policies for better and judicious utilization of all the regular and work-charged employees as per their assigned duties and responsibilities. Irregular and erring employees should be penalized (without pay / pay cuts) followed by termination, if deemed fit.

While pouring out my humble suggestions to the People’s Democratic Alliance Government of Nagaland and the worthy members of the opposition, it is also my cry and challenge to new government to let the people witness the promised ‘change is coming’ within 3(Three) years to prove to the people that it’s truly “Facta non verba / Deeds, not words”.

May God bless the authorities to fulfil their commitments and slogans madeduring the elections and truly serve the people and their real concerns.

An analyst& an observer, aconcerned senior citizen.

( KHINYI WOCH)