[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ately, there are fewer and fewer reasons that one can find to cheer about life in Nagaland. What is incomprehensible is that even in areas of everyday life where control can be exerted there is a total absence of governance. The letters that this daily receives requesting the authorities to improve the road conditions in the state is enough to fill up a series on the never ending quest of a deprived people for better roads. Now that the monsoons have arrived, there will be a downpour from the skies and an outpouring of more complaints. All colonies, streets ,lanes, market places offices which have turned into convenient garbage disposal sites for all asundry will now all have exclusive pools, and hold the denizens of Dimapur ransom to swimming in their own muck! The other repugnant sight besides the common place garbage is the ungainly sight of the open meat stalls. Granted we love our non vegetarian meal but surely, more hygienic and aesthetic sense when it comes to displaying its popularity will also be in good taste. The gory sight of chunks of meat, entrails et al splattered over bamboo mats, almost barbequed under the scorching sun and regaled by a galaxy of flies from the garbage in the vicinity will make even the most intrepid traveler wonder where he has landed. Vegetarians , God help them. It is difficult to tell which evil is worse, bad roads or the holy mess (literally).
This holy mess of the environment in many ways mirrors the financial health of the state, also equally in knots. The Chief Minister TR Zeliang candidly admitted that “mistakes” led to the poor financial status. More importantly, the question being asked is if these mistakes genuine or intended ? Will lessons be learnt from them. The budget deficit is being estimated to be anywhere between Rs 1500- 2000 crores! That is almost the state’s annual budget. Not surprisingly the newly inducted Chief Minister has asked everyone to rein in their horses and to reduce stretching the resources by making excess recruitments. The last few trips to New Delhi with a begging bowl has not resulted in any favorable outcome. But if Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s remarks are to be weighed, when he said the neglected areas of the northeast will remain a priority area. With the Union Budget to be tabled on July 11, the government in Nagaland will be on the look-out for the silver lining in the dark clouds looming over the state.
