Is Nagaland a Failed State?

Some Nagas boast at every available opportunity that Nagaland State is the only state in India born out of political agreement. Probably, Nagaland is also the only failed State in India. Fifty-three years (since 1963) of the state’s existence is reasonably long enough a period for serious appraisal. Let me outline some areas to answer the headline. Political: Contrary to the belief of many people, that statehood was just an interim solution; the 16-PA document was the living proof that statehood was intended, not as the means but the end in itself. This was evident from the speech of Dr. Imkongliba Ao, President NPC. He had his speech broadcast through All India Radio, AIR Kohima Station on inauguration day of Interim Body in February 1961. (Quote) “The Nagaland political problem had ended and therefore there is no reason for you to remain underground. Come out from underground and participate in the new establishment” (unquote). Since the first state general election in 1964, all political parties continue to proclaim solution to Naga political problem as their number one election manifesto. Yet, after the elections, no political party had the political will and courage to fulfill their promises. The GoI and the Government of Nagaland miserably failed to end what they called Naga political problem. Administrative (Violations and incomplete implementation of the clauses of 16-PA) Article 2 of 16-PA was violated when Nagaland state was shifted from Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 1972. The transfer from MEA to MHA could not have been possible without a Cabinet nod of Nagaland State Assembly. NLA of that house betrayed the Nagas. Article 11, concerning special funding pattern was withdrawn by the GoI in 1989 on the ground of having adopted the normative approach in funding. The GoI betrayed her political commitment. The state’s boundaries remain inconclusive and pending in the Supreme Court of India. Article 12, concerning Consolidation (Re-transfer) of (Reserved) Forest Areas and Article 13, concerning Consolidation (integration) of Contiguous Naga areas had direct bearings on State’s boundaries with neighboring states, especially Assam. Article 13 of 16-PA still remain a dream despite five resolutions of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) passed in December 1964, August 1970, September 1994, December 2003 and July 2015. Nagaland, being a political state born out of political agreement, territorial definition at ground was unclear from day one. Had these two articles being conclusively integral to the creation of the state, the state’s boundaries too would be conclusive. The boundary dispute was the creation of the GoI, which otherwise was traditionally indisputable. There is no sign that the inter-state boundaries will conclude anytime. Meanwhile, the State exists without clear-cut territorial demarcation at ground. It has led to border clashes and wars wherein, lives were lost. It is a clear proof that the sovereignty of Nagaland remained unchanged by statehood. Article 3 (iii) of 16-PA concerning special powers/responsibilities of the Governor on law and order continue to remain in force until date, implying that normalcy has not returned to the State. This is evident from the extension of Disturbed Area Act, 1955 in entire state of Nagaland year after years and continuation of the draconian law, Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act, 1958, still operational in Nagaland. The governments (GoI and GoN) with all the civil administrative machineries and armed forces are unable to restore normalcy. This is a complete failure on law and order front. Article 16 of 16-PA concerning Inner line regulation was a complete failure. Despite continuation of (Protected Area Act, 1958) Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 for ‘Inner line Regulation’, unabated illegal infiltration into the State from Bangladesh and Assam continues, seriously disturbing the demography of the State. The immigrants have controlled 80-90% of the State’s market economy. Article 371A of India’s constitution was the culmination of 16-PA. The sanctity of Article 371A (iv) was put to acid test when the Ministry of Petroleum and MHA claimed that this clause falls under the Union list in which, the NLA has no power to frame its own regulation for exploration of oil and natural gas. In Nagaland, the land and its resources (both on the surface and below) belong to the people. No nationalization of private lands exists in Nagaland. The State government has no liberty, except with the prior consent of the landowners, to explore the resources. The legislative power of NLA is thus, limited to regulation and safeguarding (and not exploit) the people’s rights. The contention of Petroleum ministry and MHA are direct challenge to inherent Naga right because land and people are inseparable. Man exists on land and its resources. Therefore, if the NLA fails to protect the sanctity of this clause, the preceding clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Article 371A will have no meaning. The tussle between the central ministries and the state government is like two brothers fighting for inheritance right of a property while the father is still alive. Economic: ‘No peace, no development’ has been Nagaland’s development motto. There is severe development deficit. Nagaland state is probably the only state in India with weakest infrastructure. Nagaland is still 90% dependent on centre as proved by 90:10 funding pattern for all CSS. The sorry state of our roads, hospitals and school buildings bear witness to Nagaland’s shameful face. Connectivity services (Air, surface and telecommunications) are among the poorest in the country. The cumulative deficit of the State’s budget has reached alarming level, crossing even the total plan outlay of the current financial year. Gross fiscal indiscipline has ruined the financial health of the state. Except the negligible sources of revenue generated from services provided, he State has no revenue source from industrial production. In over half a century’s span, the State could not establish a Medical College, Engineering College, Law College, Management Institutes, etc. Water supply problem is chronically perennial in all towns of the State. The State is entirely dependent on other States for power supply. No power-driven industrial activity is viable in Nagaland. Agriculture contributes major share in State’s GDP but most of our farmers still till their soil using traditional methods and implements. High BPL population of the state proved that our agricultural produce have not achieved even subsistence level, leave alone self-sufficiency and surplus. There is complete contrast between BPL population and per capita income of the state. Law and order has never been conducive for trade and commerce. The economy of the people is crippled by multiple taxations. Anti-social syndicates control the markets. The unfavorable environment has led to unprecedented brain drain, as most talented youths prefer to work outside the State in private sectors. Unemployment problem: With over 120,000 employees for a population of 190,000, the state has the highest number of government employees in the country in population ratio. Government employees’ salaries eat up over 70% of the State’s annual budget leaving meager 20-30% for development activities. Employment in private sectors is almost nil as no private firms of size and repute exist in Nagaland. The State has registered over 70,000 educated unemployed. The gross figure of unemployment inclusive of those unregistered is over 100,000. The State has miserably failed to generate employment avenues other than the white-collar job. There is over saturation in government employment. This has given rise to abuse of power giving rise to favoritism and nepotism in employment. Transfer-postings are at the whims and fancy of politicians in power. There is complete failure in manpower management in the public and semi-public sectors. Corruption: It has reached stupendous height. This Christian state has earned the dubious distinction of being the most corrupt state in India. It has affected the entire social strata in which, not even the church was spared. Corruption in Nagaland is the direct by-product of corrupt elections. Election in Nagaland is one of the most expensive in India. But for want of space, the list can go on. Nagaland State is in dire straits. Yet, our parliamentarians have no time to sit for more than 15-30 minutes in each session of assembly. The existence of Nagaland state has become a great joke. Conclusion: Statehood experiment has failed. It has not delivered the intended purpose. The time has come for Nagas for serious appraisal. The need to review statehood in its entirety has become imperative. Nagas need serious parliamentarians who will have the honesty and courage to speak on the sovereign right of Nagaland on the floor of NLA. Nagaland’s parliamentarians have a great deal of lesson to learn from the parliamentarians of Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania who had the courage to declare their independence on the floor of parliaments in early 1990s. Their lone rallying point was that, they were independent prior to Soviet annexation in WWII. Nagas too have our own history of independence that preceded India’s independence. Naga nationalists blamed statehood as the greatest impediment to sovereign Nagaland. Needless to say the only role the State parliamentarians can play to end Naga political problem is for them to shun the failed experiment of statehood.

Dr. K. Hoshi Phek Town