Dimapur, Dec. 30 (EMN): Nagaland celebrated its 55th Statehood Day this month. The state has come a long way during the last five decades but it still has a longer way to go before catching up with most of the Indian states on many aspects. The fact that not a single viable mechanism has been formulated to generate employment opportunities for the state’s educated youth all these years provides a stark reminder of the actual position the state is in.
It was on Dec. 1, 1963, that Nagaland was declared the 16th state of the Indian Union, more than three years after the 16-point agreement was signed between the government of India and the Naga People’s Convention (NPC). Besides making it a full-fledged state, the agreement also has provisions like helping the state out of the consolidated fund and grant-in-aid to meet the cost of administration.
But where does Nagaland stand today? Here is a glimpse:
Literacy
According to 2011 census, Nagaland has a population of 19,78,502 and a literacy rate of 79.55% (82.75% male, 76.11% female). The state has witnessed tremendous improvement in terms of literacy as only 10.52% was literate in 1951.
As per the Economic Survey 2016-17 conducted by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Kohima, the state has 2,070 government schools and 729 private schools. But there are only three technical educational institutes that offer diploma in technical course, and only one central university (Nagaland University), one state university (Global Open University), one private university and one National Institute of Technology (NIT). There are 15 government colleges and 48 private colleges in the state, taking the total to 63.
Economy
The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) 2016-17 at current price is INR 21,119 cr. (9.91% growth) with agriculture and allied activities contributing 29%, according to the Economic Survey 2016-17. At current prices, the per capital income in the state is estimated at INR 1,00,613 during 2016-17 as against INR 92,507 in 2015-16.
However, with a narrow tax base (direct and indirect taxes), the state has been relying on Central fund determined by the Finance Commission since statehood. The grant-in-aid from Central government during 2011-12 was INR 4,246.35 cr., which was increased to INR 6,775.69 cr. during 2016-17. The state’s total liability is estimated to remain at 43.77 per cent of GSDP as against the Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement target of 32.15% in 2016-17, according to the Economic Survey.
Transport and communication
The state has a total road length of 12079.8 km (excluding National Highways) during 2016-17, according to Economic Survey 2016-17. However, the roads are reported to be in deplorable conditions due to negligence by the state government, and natural calamities. The four-lane road project between Kohima and Dimapur has picked up pace of late but it may take some years to complete.
The state has a railway connection till Dimapur but it is yet to reach the capital city. In terms of air connectivity, Nagaland has a lone airport at its commercial hub Dimapur.
The state government has been trying to promote handloom and handicraft over the years and it has shown positive outcome. However, no big industry has been set up in the state that can boost its economy.
Nagaland has turned into one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country over the years. Its rich historical and cultural heritage and beautiful landscape have received traction. The state’s annual 10-day Hornbill Festival organised in Dec. has boosted tourism, attracting 2,51,701 visitors (2,702 foreigners, 37,397 domestic, 2,11,602 local) this year. According to the Economic Survey 2016-17, the inflow of tourist to the state in 2010 was 22,499 (21,004 domestic, 1,495 foreigners) but it increased to 61,438 (58,178 domestic, 3,260 foreigners) in 2016.
Tourism in the state is still at its nascent stage but there is potential to become a tourist hub if infrastructure like road is improved and aggregate firms offer viable travel packages.
Insurgency is akin to the state. The Naga National Council (NNC) started Nagas’ independence movement from India under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo in 1946 but after the group signed the infamous Shillong Accord 1975 with the government of India, a new faction called the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) was floated in 1980 by Isak Chishi Swu, Thuingaleng Muivah and SS Khaplang. The NSCN fell apart in 1988— one led by Swu and Muivah (NSCN-IM), and the other by Khaplang (NSCN-K), which fragmented even further three years after abrogating the ceasefire with the government of India in 2015.
The NSCN-IM has been spearheading peace talks with the government of India for several years now in an attempt to solve the long-pending Nagas' struggle for self-determination. Subsequently, the historic peace accord, a framework agreement for Naga peace, was signed between the NSCN-IM and Indian government on Aug. 3, 2015. It spurred hope that the much-delayed political issue would be solved and the Nagas in Nagaland, Myanmar, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh would be finally placed under one administrative umbrella but that has not happened even more than three years after the signing of the much-hyped framework agreement.
The Nagaland state assembly has passed resolution on Naga integration for the sixth time, stating that it as a legitimate right of the Nagas despite stiff opposition from its neighbouring states. The hope for a respectable solution to Naga political issue remains to be an illusion.
The government of India has been pumping funds into the state since it attained statehood but has failed to eradicate poverty with the rich becoming richer and the poor getting poorer. Instead of making the state self-reliant by setting up industries, especially those that will generate employment and use natural resources available in the region, the central government has been providing temporary relief all these years. The Tuli Paper Mill (Nagaland Pulp & Paper Mill) and Sugar Mill are defunct today, leaving the state with no heavy industries. With job opportunities in the public sector having reached a level of saturation and the government of India not showing an interest to set up big factories in the state, the future of the educated youths and the state is doomed.
Nagaland needs a long-term solution that will help fight poverty and facilitate development, and not short-term help that will make it more dependent on the central government. Besides industries, the state needs more educational institutions to offer professional courses. The fact that the state still does not have a medical college (Nagaland Medical College at Phriebagei in Kohima, expected to be functional by 2020) speaks volumes.
