Longrangty Longchar | EMN
It was indeed very saddening to hear our Chief Minister, Shri. Neiphiu Rio, on the floor of the revered Nagaland Legislative Assembly, that there has been no progress on the revival of the Tuli Paper Mill (or Nagaland Pulp & Paper Mill). Often dubbed as ‘The White Elephant’ by the media, the mill has been defunct since 1992. There was a small glimmer of hope when the centre released “a revival package in 2003 amounting to Rs 489 crore”. But, as the chief minister said, this package could not materialise till date despite constant pressure from the Nagaland government. There was also another glimmer of hope when the Advisor of Industries, Shri. Imnatiba and the Commissioner & Secretary of Industries, Smt. Lithrongla G. Chishi told Eastern Mirror (on July 17, 2018) that state government is genuinely pursuing the matter about the revival of the mill. They said that the centre is also very serious about the mill’s revival and said that the NITI Aayog also understands about the issue. Advisor Imnatiba had, on that occasion, said that the state government would not close down the mill ‘until and unless all options are exhausted’. Well, all options seem to be exhausted now, since the chief minister, who also holds the Industries & Commerce Department, had said the Department of Heavy Industries’ secretary convened a meeting on March 21 to decide the future course of action on the NPPCL. The last nail on the coffin seems to have been hammered when the revelation came that “a Cabinet committee of economic affairs note for closure of NPPCL be prepared expeditiously by the department of Heavy Industries”.
From all accounts, for a layman like me, it could be understood that the state government had done its part in its endeavour to revive the mill. It has been reported that even former Chief Minister, Shri. TR Zeliang had written at least four letters to the centre for the revival of the mill. Besides, the present Chief Minister Shri. Neiphiu Rio had also written to the centre on the same issue. What went wrong with the mill or why it could not be revived would be a question of study, perhaps, for future economics scholars to do a research for their PhD thesis.
But, the immediate question at hand is what’s next? Somehow, as a citizen, I wonder whether our state is not suited for heavy industries or factories to thrive on despite the abundance of natural resources. There was this Sugar Mill which had been closed down. I am sure many of the youngsters today are not aware that, once upon a time, Nagaland had a sugar mill in Dimapur. Now, the Tuli Paper Mill, with all the promises that it brought with it about way back – before I was even born, but I have heard the stories – is now, but a place of memories and lost hope. The news about the Wahezo cement factory hasn’t been heard for a long time now. The Doyang Hydel Project is under the control of NEEPCO; the last time we went to the hydel project area, the residents out there were reeling under five days of power blackout. It is not a very entertaining thought at this moment, but I can’t help it. Even this notion (a ridiculous one at best) that a solution to the protracted Indo-Naga political issue would be the panacea of all our maladies is nothing, but a fool’s dream. Therefore, once again, the question at hand is what’s next? The unemployment rate is increasing every year, the jobs in the government sector has reached its saturation point, the towns and cities are teeming with young educated (or should I say, literate people) roaming here and there, while the villages and the lush fertile forest areas gently keeps on calling them.
Therefore, it would be prudent – in my humble opinion – if the state government can change its industrial policy i.e. if it has an industrial policy at all. Of course, there is this tourism industry and music industry, and are there more? Anyway, what I feel deep in my heart is only this, can we or the government have a change of direction and have a relook at the Gandhian philosophy of khadi and cottage industry so that everyone has something to do to earn at least something for their every day. Mahatma Gandhi, in the year 1925 wrote in the Young India, “If we want the millions to earn a few paises by doing honest and honourable work, the only possible instrument to present them with, in our country, is the gentle and graceful spinning wheel.” Well, in our case, perhaps we can, instead of the spinning wheel, say the humble and graceful dao and sheath.
For centuries, our forests have been providing our forefathers what they need. As I travelled through the villages in Nagaland, I have seen villagers harvesting the humble broom grass (tiger grass) to be exported to Assam. On further enquiry, I learnt that the humble grass reaches faraway places like Rajasthan and even Saudi Arabia. The villagers, just because the non-local traders were demanding it and asking to buy it, were selling it at throw-away price (that was years ago, though. I don’t know whether the trade is still continuing or not). I have also met one cardamom farmer at Noksen town just recently. He said that he sold his produce at Rs. 600 per kilo last season, which he said was a loss. But he said that he harvests about 1000 kilo last year and earned around Rs. 6 lakh. But if he said it was a loss, then surely it was a loss. I have also met a Professor at Lumami, Nagaland University – a botanist – who said that there are plenty of medicinal plants around growing naturally like gooseberries (amla), and sumac (in Ao it’s called or a sour berry which is also traditionally used as a medicine, especially against food poisoning) etc.
Why can’t we export them? Or value add them, or why can’t we tell the villagers that it is better to harvest what is naturally grown in your fields than to plant new crops. Somehow, I feel that as the forests gently beckons the Naga people once again, the state government can perhaps formulate a good strategy of prioritizing on constructing good roads (that’s for the public works department to do), make proper connections with the traders or pharmaceutical companies for exporting the local produce (that’s for the commerce & industries department), formulate a reasonable tax regime in consultation with the central government (that’s for the taxes department) and educate the people that the land and its resources are enough for earning ones livelihood (that’s for the agri. and allied sector’s job). Everything seems so easy, but I know it is easier said than done.
Therefore, let me humbly admit here that these are just the sad rumbling feelings of a common Naga citizen, just typing out the thoughts in a random manner, so that my mind would be free of opinions and I can have a good rest and look forward to a brand new day. Thank you for reading, and yes its 2:22 am. So, good morning and have a great day ahead
