I really am impressed with the observation made by Shri. P. Longang Leo Konyak. Here as a Zeliang, I will like to highlight few circumstances and the state of affairs in regards to Peren district and Zeliang as a Tribe.
Since, British regime few Zeliangs, like, Dr. Harielungbe (Haralu), Mr. Livi, Clerk, Mr. Guizang, Headmaster, Mission School, Impur, Mr. L. Lungalang, Chief Secretary and T. Haralu APO, Mon (IFAS) and N. N. Haralu (IFS) were in picture among Nagas, was the impressions that Zeliangs were not included in 1973 Backward list. Later on the Government of Nagaland on assessment of Zeliang status and plight of the then Peren Sub-Division, the above prominent personalities were found to be from only two villages viz: Poilwa & Benreu and the rest were deprived and lives in primitive, such that to give equal opportunities to the weaker section Zeliang was included with additional 8% reservations to which of course some tribe have reap the fruits in the name of Backward Tags.
The Foolishness/Backwardness of Zeliang was exposed even on the day our friend P. L. Leo Konyak, had argument with Zeliangs (I am sorry for that matter) by some few blind misguided persons taking the name of Zeliang, who were even ignorant about the 8% reservation meant for Zeliang minus other Tribes, and today the Zeliangs are miserably sharing the 8% reservation with other tribes, of course the Pochury of Meluri Sub Division deserve reservation. The ENSF on that day was demanding their due share of 25% reservations meant for them and Bravo you did it.
Coming back to the Zeliangs making on to merit list, as per my knowledge is concern is a rare occurrence and hardly one or two in a decade, as far as the NPSC Exam is concern, if not for reservation, of course some Zeliangs are on merit list for technical Studies this year.
The present status of Zeliang tribe as a whole is no better than the past, the 170 + Gazetted Officers (50% from a particular village to which our friend Leo Konyak have rightly pointed out) for a Tribe is not impressive but whatever be the status other Nagas wants us to be we do not mind whether we be treated at par with Backward or Advance Tribe Zeliangs can be in any categories.
Our only wish and prayer is that God grants wisdom to the Nagas Leaders and the Government of Nagaland the biggest employer of the state population, to listen to the “Voices of the Wilderness,” look into the pathetic conditions of the poor rural masses, the district thought near the capital town, the bad road and lack of other development activities in the district have push us far away. More over the Zeliangs do not represented well at state level nor at the district level offices as well and the many departmental offices even after a gap of 13 years of upgradation the district level offices in Peren are yet to be established. Viz:
(1) Transport Department (2) Home Guard (3) Art & Culture (4) Legal & Consumer Protection (5) Taxes Office (6) AE (CAWD) (7) Urban Dev. Office, (8)The many GPS with Single Teacher or 2 Teachers with a shortfall of 500+ teachers as per the ratio of 1:6 9) 07 de-electrified villages since 2003 is yet to be restored and see the light of Power Department.
10) No Internet facilities at the Dist. Headquarter, Peren. (Peren is the 1st district for Digital India along with Kohima)
11)17 villages with no PWD road (tracks leading to the villages were mostly constructed by Loggers and the Villagers).
12) The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Peren, still manned by Sub Divisional strength needs strengthening.
13) SP Peren (DEF) with a strength of 394 personals only with all ranks and files is too scarce a number to cover the whole district.
Only with the above changes by the Naga Leaders and GoN, than Peren District or for that matters Zeliang- Kuki will see little light of employment and lifestyles in the near future.
Till then, it is indeed “Incredible Peren (India)”.
