With more than half of the tenure elapsed for the present government and the next elections due in another 19-20 months the church body in Nagaland has also kick-started the clean elections campaign for the youth and specifically entrusted the youth department of the apex Baptist church council, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council for the campaign. The issue have been long felt and discussed in almost all forums since the nineties but the church had shied away from it at least officially till now. Even though there were instances of its own members preaching and also singing the evils of elections in the Naga society it had always officially maintained its distance. With the worsening of the scenario in the state where a big majority of the voters is influenced by money or the promise of favours during elections it is timely if not a bit late that the church have decided to play an active role in campaigning for clean election practices among the voters.
The use of religion and the creation of an image of evil or sin in the minds of the youngster thus discouraging them to sell their votes will no doubt have positive effects at least during elections. However as mentioned in earlier editorials of Eastern Mirror it is of outmost importance that a safe and secure atmosphere is maintained during elections for the youngsters to get out of their house and participate in the electoral process. It is not the youngsters but the older generations who are already involved in the process that creates a threat perception on the minds of the people during elections. It discourages most of the ideal citizens to involve in the electoral process while encouraging the anti social elements to take advantage of the situation.
The Church also need to talk about cleaning the census of the state then only the electoral roll can also be cleaned. Unless the electoral roll is cleaned of fictitious and double entries clean elections will still be a far dream. Our state have failed miserably even in the most basic collection of facts. Incorrect information of head count, residence, income, date of birth, educational qualification and at times even the identity of the person itself are common practices and not exceptions in the state. The Church should have something to say in such cases too.
During the present tenure of the government there was no notable developmental activity in the state and the government is technically almost in suspended animation. The only noteworthy events were the crises in the ruling party and the other related issues of merger/defection, disqualification petitions and court cases. The move by the Church is noteworthy and an acceptance of the problems of corruption prevailing in the state attributable to malpractices during elections. It should be taken as the first step but the Church should not stop only on clean elections. The Church and its followers need to be informed and disciplined about correct disclosures of every information. Then only can the state see some noticeable changes in the reduction of corruption.
