Yet another award has been conferred on Nagaland and this time it is in the category of progress in Information Technology awarded by the Computer Society of India. The CSI Nihilent e-Governance award 2015-16 was conferred on the state for its achievement and progress in the IT sector. In spite of the many hurdles and hiccups that the state have faced to implement the projects under the ambitious National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) launched by the centre, it has today proven to the other states that Nagaland can also give ample competition in the IT sector if only given a chance.
The distance from the mainland, the topography, lack of urbanisation, fear of militancy etc. are some of the reasons why reliable companies from outside the state are not attracted to work on IT projects in the state. Consequently the state like most of the other North Eastern States ends up with little known companies that are willing to do projects. Even if the companies are renowned there have been allegations of these companies sending out the less proficient lot of its staff to the region. Moreover the unofficial statement in the public sector that all transfers to Nagaland are a ‘punishment transfer’ may hold true even for some of the private IT companies. In such a scenario, add a bit of political interference and some form of ‘tax’ demands and any project is led to its doom.
However, the department was able to turn this to its advantage, thus winning the award from the CSI. At present almost all the IT projects in the state are now being self-managed by the state department without being leased out to private firms. It is a task that will be almost impossible to emulate in most of the other states but it was necessity for a state like Nagaland. The present honour actually goes to the team of dedicated professionals in the department of IT&C led by the director who not only had the required skills but also the sincerity and intent to make it work. It is demonstrated by the fact that the department and its team took up the burden of continuing with the various projects that initially was handled mostly by private companies from outside the state but was unable to continue.
With the number of awards in various categories on an increase all around the country and the world over, the recent award to the state IT&C department may also be considered just another award by many. However, to those who matter and who know it, it is indeed a vindication of the visions and sincerity of the first breed of Naga IT professionals in the state machinery. Way to go!
