Benito Z. Swu
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ever in the history of India since independence did the Government of the day (read UPA) display in a very blatant manner the separation of sheep from the goats as was taken up literally as a state policy by favouring states ruled by it and discriminating states not ruled by it.
And yet again contradicting its actions while shouting itself hoarse from time to time against the perceived intention of the BJP to bring about a ‘uniform civil code’, the then Congress led UPA Government brought about the recommendation of the 13th Finance Commission which was never going to be realistic as far as small states like ours were concerned. To a lay person the main reason for the deficit of Rs.1234 crores can only be because of massive corruption by the Government of the day. However reality confirms otherwise. This ofcourse does not mean the state can shy away from the blame. Mismanagements will be there. Anyway, the fact remains that the 13th Finance Commission had recommended that no state should cross 35% of the total expenditure on the salary of its employees. Now, Nagaland with more than a lakh of government employees, the salary component in itself eats up 65% of the total expenditure. No wonder, under the circumstances, it is no rocket science to not understand that a deficit of Rs 1234 crores seem modest and even justifiable. For a small state like Nagaland with the dubious distinction of having the highest density of Government employees in India and with literally no worthwhile resources worth mentioning of its own to bridge the gap, the then Congress led UPA Government of India had knowingly and most probably with intent discredited the NPF led DAN Government of Nagaland. The same benchmark and with the same mind-frame, the Education policy of the Congress led UPA Government of India had done more harm than good, not just to Nagaland but to all other vulnerable small states of the Indian Union. Non-detention Education policy of the UPA Government of India might have worked, which I seriously doubt, for big states with even bigger rural population but for all small state like ours it has reaped no positive benefits. As it is, the lax and negligent taking for granted attitude of many a Government schools in Nagaland where teaching is not a passion but more of a ‘going through the motions’ of a Government job, coupled with the rather unfortunate, lamentable, laidback and more or less an ‘ordeal attitude’ towards academic learning of our school going kids, the non-detention policy is not an incentive but rather a “nipping in the bud” reality, devoid of any vision. A shortcut to save an immediate problem. All this in the name of democracy and equality.Had the Congress led UPA Government lived true to what India is as the largest democracy of the world and the diversity of it which can only be seen to believe; had it played its role as the Government of India for the whole of India by treating all the states of India, if not at par atleast to an extent; had it showed magnanimity by honoring atleast some of the commitments of the predecessor government, it might had aswell got defeated in this year’s 2014 General election but it would not have suffered the ignominy of not even qualifying for the opposition leadership role and being relegated to being a fringe player. Self obsession, definitely and ultimately proved to be the ‘Achilles heel’ of the Congress led UPA Government.
If at all there is any Naga today who has the know-how, the experience, the art of avoiding sidewalk booby traps, the very pragmatic understanding of the many tribal societies, communities, and again the many sub-class and clans from within a tribe, the strength and weaknesses of the Nagas in a family of such diverse constituents and problems as of the North-East and in intimate detail, it is Neiphu Rio. This is not sycophancy singing. And I do urge anyone to name a personality who fits the bill. Love him or hate him, no one but him fits the bill. And it is only adding up to our loss, to the loss of the North-East and to the loss of the Indian nation with Rio designated and limited as a Member of Parliament. It will be in the greater interest of the country if the BJP led NDA government recognize that the outlook of Rio today is much beyond the confined myopic polity of the region, who by virtue of being a Naga will never allow a situation for the other sister states to point a finger at. Early free India, with a socialistic and protectionist economic policy saw little use for developing the trade potentials with Myanmar and South East Asia through North East India. Further, the earlier Governments of India had not been very successful in developing friendly relations with its neighbors, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The problems were compounded by the weak economies of the countries on both sides of the North East region, with little to invest for developing the infrastructure of the region to facilitate trade. At the same time, the people living on either side of the borders, apart from being primitive, were deeply engrossed with issue of independence and self determination, with its associated violent movements, leaving little room for even the natural process of cross border economic ties to emerge. The potentials of the region had therefore remained dormant, till the present day advent of the process of economic liberalization and the forces of globalization.
In spite of all the historical and geographical inhibiting factors, we now have come to a stage in history, where the North-East region is emerging as the most viable overland trade route between the fast growing economies of India, China and South East Asia. India, as a dominant economy should take the initial advantage and hence definite action plans can be adopted for promoting the North-East as the preferred trade route between India and the ASEAN countries. If North-East India is to emerge as a ‘Regional Market and Economic Zone’ going beyond the ‘Look East Policy’, the wealth of information, experience, expertise and the technique of inducing the favored environment that is in Neiphu Rio, who can leverage and leaven, will be indispensable. It will not be anytime soon for a leader of Rio’s caliber to emerge from the region and as such to not exploit Rio because of regional political considerations can very well turn out to be a costly oversight for the North-East region and for the Central Government of the day. It is to Rio’s and India’s credit that he, as the then Chief Minister, had been able to make a beginning by taking the initiative to create a conducive political and social climate in its relation with Myanmar. It is to the advantage of the North-East that people living in either side of the border are of the same ethnic groups, as the international boundaries follow only the natural watershed and is not based on ethnic or nationalistic lines.
Much as we would love to think and fathom that the times that we live in today in Nagaland, is normal, the harsh reality is, it isn’t. We are living in troubled times. Governance in normal times and Governance in troubled times are two very different ball game. Whatever might have been Rio’s shortcomings, nobody can take away the fact that Rio has been very successful in balancing and providing governance to the people inspite of too little a space and time for maneuver in these troubled times. Somehow he has been able to unite and bring people together, much in the mould as to how Narender Modi was successful in bringing India together. Somehow, a higher power has been guiding him all the way. In these troubled times, it is imperative that the hands and arms of Rio is strengthened all the more. Nagas today cannot afford to begin afresh all the way back from the starting point, not knowing how and who actually will lead the people. Nagas needs to convey to the BJP leadership that our leader strengthened is definitely in the interest of the BJP led and guided NDA Government of India, and that we will always remain the staunchest ally of the BJP. The people of the 11 Northern Angami-II A/C should take pride in the knowledge and the fact that they are the life giving oxygen for which they have sacrificed their comfort for the comfort of the rest of the Nagas. We pray that you all will again rise up to the occasion and bless the son of your soil to even greater heights as his face reflects the magnanimity of all your collective wisdom. May the good Lord bless us all.
