As the legend goes, when the negotiations were being held at various levels before statehood those representing the Government of India purportedly told the Naga delegation that everything required by the new state will be paid for by the Central government. Economic packages, development, no taxes and so on and so forth. The veracity of such a conversation or statement is not confirmed but some of these points were also already covered in the 16 point agreement. Although welfare and sops without any tax were required initially for the state to develop Nagaland and its people has since then stayed likewise for the last 54 years since statehood. It was anathema to speak about tax in Nagaland till a few years ago all the more accentuated by the presence of so many political groups with their own ‘tax’. Then the absence of notable private companies and industries is taken as the excuse for poor collection of tax in the state. Other than the unofficial taxes, Nagas the concept of tax is completely missing among Nagas still now. On the other hand the Nagas by custom are close-knit and the customary laws still upholds such practices. For almost all the tribes although at present one’s fortunes are not distributed among all, misfortunes and needs have to be taken care by all especially the well to do ones. Such a concept becomes a gargantuan problem for many a high ranking government official and all the politicians contesting elections. A high ranking official is by default expected to assist and help members of his family, in-laws ,clan, village, tribe during his years in service at times even expected to break the law. Else either find loopholes in the law or create loopholes to enable a contract or employ someone in to service. As for the politician it becomes a bigger problem. The average Naga who supports a politician will ensure that it is known by the politician and the politician is thereby expected to accept the supporter as almost a family member of the politician’s one big extended political family. The envelopes with money even if nominal has to reach every supporter’s household for every occasion whether its joyous or tragic. If elected then the politician has a bigger task to show a gesture of acknowledgement on such occasions for each and every household of his constituency. So many conclusions of the consequences and effects of such a practice can be drawn but the least said the better. The mighty church is also a victim of this syndrome that sometimes it instead seems forced, like extortion in the name of religion. Unless the people of the state discard this dependency syndrome it will be difficult to clean up the electoral process.
