There are mainly three institutional constraints that hinder development in the state at present: the presence of many nationalist groups, a lethargic and corrupted government, and a mushrooming of interest groups formed on tribal, clan, village, landownership, church, political, student and family lines. These three forces are enmeshed with one another reinforcing each other, making the state a miserable one economically.
The laying down of arms of nationalist groups, if that is being negotiated, will lead to the removal of the first constraint after the Naga Political solution. However, it is doubtful whether the government will suddenly rise up to the occasion and get involved in a complete overhaul of the governance system e.g. completing projects on time within the allotted budget with proper audits, running smoothly the state’s service delivery, etc. In other words, the same politicians, the same engineers, health professionals, teachers, police force and bureaucrats will man the system. It is thus difficult to see the governance system suddenly changing for the better.
Naga society is deeply communitarian in its bonding - familial, clan, village, and tribal. It works wonder in informal settings. However, it is these bonding which lead to nepotism, graft, and violation of the rule of law in criminal cases.
It will take more than the political solution to unlock the Gordian Knot to economic prosperity for the Nagas.
Chothazo Nienu,
Hyderabad
