A Collective Wake-Up Call: Forging a Cleaner, Prouder Nagaland

Dear fellow citizens and our respected government,

I was profoundly inspired by a recent article titled “What’s Ailing Us: A Nation at War with Its Own Civility” by Anil Talwar. Coupled with the Government of India's vision for our nation to become a developed country by 2047, I feel compelled to issue this call to action.

Our Naga society is built on a powerful foundation of community and collective responsibility. As India charts its course to become a developed nation by 2047, we in Nagaland have a golden opportunity to lead the way. This vision, however, cannot be realised by one group alone. It demands a united front—a partnership between every citizen and every government body.

Let us together imagine our future:

• Spotless Towns: Imagine Kohima, Dimapur, and Mokokchung not just as commercial hubs, but as gleaming examples of cleanliness, where littering is unthinkable and every citizen takes pride in a clean street.

• Exemplary Traffic Discipline: Imagine traffic that flows smoothly, with vehicles maintaining lanes and a first-come, first-served queue system. This is particularly needed in Dimapur, where the current traffic situation is chaotic. The lack of lane discipline, especially by some auto-rickshaw drivers who overtake indiscriminately, and the failure of many two-wheeler and auto-rickshaw drivers to park in designated areas, has become a menace that requires immediate attention from the authorities. We envision a system where drivers stop at zebra crossings not out of fear of a fine, but from mutual respect, and where the impatient honk is a rare sound.

• Tourist-Friendly Ambassadors: Imagine visitors being stunned not only by our breathtaking landscapes and the Hornbill Festival but also by the honesty, courtesy, and helpfulness of every Naga they meet.

This is not a far-fetched dream. It is an achievable reality if we work in synergy.

The Pillars of Our Transformation: A Shared Responsibility

1. A Call to Our Citizens: Your Action is the Foundation

Change begins with us. We call upon every individual and community organisation—from tribal hohos and student unions to churches and youth societies—to lead this change from the ground up.

• Embrace Personal Habits: Carry a litter bag, respect public property, practice queue culture, and mind your language. Courtesy is contagious.

• Lead Community Initiatives: Launch "My Ward, My Responsibility" cleaning drives. Let our churches include civic duty in their teachings. Empower our youth to become "Civic Sense Ambassadors."

2. A Call to Our Government: Your Support is the Engine

While we commit to changing our habits, we also urge our government at all levels to create an enabling environment. We need your support to sustain our efforts.

• Strengthen Public Infrastructure: Provide and maintain adequate waste bins, ensure regular garbage collection, and keep public amenities functional and clean.

• Enable and Enforce: Implement and support waste segregation at source. Ensure traffic rules are followed not just through fines, but through consistent education and visible enforcement. It is high time that the government institutes a robust system that imposes exemplary fines for those who break the rules. Whether it is spitting in public from chewing gutka or tamul, smoking in restricted areas, or traffic violations by drivers, the penalty must be significant enough to act as a deterrent and set a precedent for others to follow. We can look to our neighbouring states for inspiration—emulating Mizoram's discipline in traffic rules and Sikkim's renowned standards of cleanliness.

• Foster Partnerships and Lead Sensitisation: The concept of "shared sovereignty" we often hear about in the ongoing peace talks finds its true meaning in grassroots development. Just as political progress requires a partnership, so does societal progress. Therefore, it is the duty of the government to proactively initiate partnerships with Hohos, churches, and student organisations. These bodies are crucial to disseminating objectives, educating on civic duties, and sensitising the general public. We must acknowledge that a foundation for a civilised society cannot be built by government circulars alone; it must be cultivated within our communities through trusted institutions.

The Shared Reward: Nagaland, the Jewel of India's Northeast

By working together, we are not just cleaning our streets; we are building our future.

• Economic Prosperity: A clean, safe, and disciplined state is a tourist magnet, translating directly into jobs, growth, and prosperity for our people.

• Unparalleled Pride: We will stand tall as a national example of what can be achieved when a people and their government work in harmony.

• A Lasting Legacy: We will gift our children a Nagaland that is not only politically understood but also socially advanced—a state that truly lives up to its name as "the land of the hospitable people."

The target of 2047 is our shared deadline. The journey begins with a single step from each of us.

We, the people, pledge to do our part. We, the government, must initiate, collaborate, and empower that pledge.

Let this wake-up call be the start of a new, collaborative chapter for our beautiful state. Let us, together, become the pioneers of a New India.

Kuknalim.

L Senti Yanger

A Concerned Citizen of Nagaland