According to the 2011 census, Nagaland is home to approximately 30,000 non-governmental organisations (NGO), which means there is one organisation for every 66 people.
Share
According to the 2011 census, Nagaland is home to approximately 30,000 non-governmental organisations (NGO), which means there is one organisation for every 66 people. And it doesn’t end there. New organisations keep cropping up at regular intervals. Proliferation of organisations is a common phenomenon across the world, as people float new organisations based on ethnicity, profession, shared interest, culture, geographical locations, etc., with an aim to achieve common goals. It reflects expansion of democratic space, increased active civic participation in governance, growing public awareness on social issues and heightened interest in addressing diverse issues – such as environmental degradation, human rights violations, gender inequality, authoritarianism, violations of indigenous rights, lack of health access, shrinking civic space, climate change, pollution, etc. – confronting our society. Organisations also contribute to development by promoting efficiency, transparency, and accountability. They serve as a bridge between the government and the public, and help resolve conflicts through mediation and negotiation. However, there is an adage that says, "Too much of anything is not good”. We are experiencing this in Nagaland today – an extremely high concentration of organisations, which has raised doubts about the intent, effectiveness and purpose. And this trend is not limited to civil society organisations. The number of Naga Political Groups (NPGs) has dramatically increased over the last couple of decades, undermining the long-standing struggle for a resolution to the Naga political issue.
The uncontrolled proliferation of organisations, be they civil society groups or armed insurgent factions, is weakening the very fabric that holds Naga society together as a people. For instance, there are more than 20 NPGs today, each claiming to enjoy a legitimate mandate from the Naga people in the political struggle. Newspapers are flooded with speeches by leaders from various factions on special occasions like Naga Independence Day and Republic Day. The content of their speeches indicates that the end goal is basically the same, yet they are unwilling to work together. It serves as a stark reminder of the deep-rooted division, though all groups claim to fight for Naga self-determination. This is why the government of India signed two different accords—the Framework Agreement and the Agreed Position—with different groups for the same issue, creating more confusion and dilemma than solution. Civil society is no different. Some choose to form parallel organisations instead of strengthening the existing ones, despite having the same aims and objectives. Such an approach only leads to further fragmentation and duplication of efforts. What should resonate as a powerful collective voice of the people is being reduced to a mere mumble. It is of our own making.