JULY2013
Focus. Veracity. Awareness! Imchala Ozukum Opinions galore. Opinions about the lack of development, about appointed representatives being corrupt and not carrying out their responsibilities, yada, yada! A cacophony of accusations, discontentment. Don’t get me wrong. All those opinions are well-intentioned, valid and founded but in this melee of playing the game of brick bats, have we devoted a moment’s time to self-analysis? A critical assessment of one’s worth? Our contribution as individuals, as inhabitants of Nagaland? We take so much from the land but have we given back to it in whatever measures, small or big, which might help in sustaining the overall growth of our land? As a wise man once said (no prizes for guessing who)“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”, before you raise your voice of agitated dissent against an anomaly in the system, have you asked yourself this- “Am I guilty of being a contributing factor to this
O
degeneration?” Don’t you think it’s akin to a dereliction of duty when we ignore calls of our own duties as responsible citizens? Alright, alright, Mea Culpa! The above statement might have come across a tad too hackneyed but hey, there are hues of truth to it, without putting on a semblance of it, right? As an act of retrospection, let us pose these questions within the purview of our conscienceAm I aware of my rights? Am I making the right use of my rights? Am I a responsible individual? Do I have the conviction to raise my voice against blatant misuse of power and influence and not be reduced to a mere whimper when faced with adversity? In what ways can I contribute towards making our land more conducive for existence? In what ways can I lead by example?
Focus, veracity, awareness will go a long way in paving
Practical Steps For All Round Development Viketu Angami I know we Nagas are very negative, still in the Third World and very possessive of our Third World mindsets. But given this platform, I am not only trying my best to be as positive/constructive as I can but sharing the core of my heart. And to begin with, for all round development in Nagalandmy earnest suggestions are:
I
STRENGTHEN THE LAW ENFORCING BODIES: • Foremost, The Government must make sincere efforts to stomp every forms of corruption, leniency, irresponsibility and bias in this department. • Take measures to check and discharge/ sack the Thugs, Rogues in the Police force. • Discipline and disciplining is a must for the Law Enforcing Bodies (The Police Deptt). These Law Enforcing bodies should be brave to issue any arrest warrants, curb down any form of violence, to arrest any corrupt politicians/ bureaucrats/officials of any department and stand against any anti-social elements. • The State capital is in short of Police Stations. Apart from the PHq and the SP Office, it has only 2 (two) police stations(North and South PS). Many Colonies are out of reach to these Police stations • With Kohima growing, the present district Jail at Jail colony should be converted to a Major Police Station. Divide into sections/branch: Crime, traffic, Accidents, domestic violence, Narcotics cell, Arms, Illegal Immigrants, corruptions/ frauds... • Similarly, more Police Stations should come up at New Capital Complex (A Major one), High School Area, Bayavii-Kenuozou, Kohima Village-DBS, Daklane – Nagabazaar-New Market, Paramedical – Agri-Forest, Midland- PWD Chandmari. • The district jail should be shifted to an outskirt with better facilities (suitable even for corrupt politicians, officials), more vocations for the inmates and with bigger space. Will not be surprised if there would be The Inmates participating in the Classic Cup, NSF Martyrs Trophy, Naga Open Wrestling, Taekwondo Championships, Republic/Independence Day Parade (March Past) or at the any exhibitions. • No society can thrive, prosper and excel without security. IMPROVE ROAD/ELECTRICITY/WATER • Please we need better Roads, regular power supplies (Thank you it has improved a lot) andwater. • Every village, town, colonies must be fixed with water facility. Surveys should be done even to provide community Tube/Bore Well where water connections are impossible. • No matter what developments you bring,
80-90% of the society does not have any part in it. We just carry on with our works/business through these three basic amenities. • The older generation who paved all these ways with their blessings deserves - to travel in good road condition - to watch their favourite TV Channels without power interruptions - the fundamental rights for refreshing water. • Will be very great if you can map some City/Town Ring Roads to solve the traffic woes in our State. • We sincerely need more footbridges in all the towns + at the National Highway (Especially at the overpopulated areas: From Sechii-Zubza to Dimapur). • And yes certainly with the Four Lane, please include some Flyovers at some key junctions from Dimapur to Medziphema to solve the traffic woes/accidents. STOP BLACK (BIAS, FRAUDULENT, BACKDOOR) APPOINTMENTS • How many are sincerely responding to their duties? Check the offices, schools in the rural/remote areas!!!Form Panels to monitor all the Govt run Health centers, institutions, departments and all the outposts. • It certainly surprises me that you recommend and appoint Government teachers but you don’t send your children to Government Schools & Colleges. • Let every jobs/placement be given to the right people who are committed to serve the people and to take our society forward. With security, good roads, regular power supply, water and transparency in installing dedicated & qualified Officers/candidates/ applicants, you sure can influence more public investments to our society and the legacy will impart inspirations to the younger generations with visions of Hope. To the PUBLIC • Envision the uproars and intolerances toward anyone against our interest and the noble silence on our own blunders. Let us be part of CIVILITY and demonstrate itbefore we cry foul, fume, curse, protest, criticize, serve ultimatum and agitate against The Government or to anyone. • Let us be the generation that will overwhelm our chronic behavioural patterns & attitudes with confidence, love and generosity toward one another. • There is no glory in parting and rotting in dust with no noble change. • Our Fore-fathers gave us Hope by refraining from Head-hunting; we too can reform and believe the BEST to come.
the way for a better Nagaland. And this starts from within one’s premises. We, as conscientious citizens of this beautiful land should stop giving in to mindless banter, timidity and cease conforming to the system which is sadly in tatters and we are no less guilty for this sorry state of affairs. But a stitch in time saves nine, remember? (Personally, I would never forget this adage as I wrote an almost thesis- like narration on this during an English exam in high school which to my embarrassment today, was mostly gibberish haha!) I could go and on, which (dear Lord!) might subscribe further to the stereotype of women being incessant talkers so let me be better safe than sorry! And truth be told, I’m beginning to feel a bit patronizing even to myself hahaha! Parthian shot? Well if you insist! Self-examine and critique yourself before raising your finger of accusation and then the rest will follow and fall into almost-perfect place. Cheers!
Recommendations For All Round Development In Nagaland Dr. Zekolo Koza 1. Firstly Change should begin with you and me. 2.Everybody wants to change the Society but Nobody wants to change himself. 3.Nagas need not only Personal Reformation ( eg:Tadpole into a frog) but also Personal Transformation in our so-called Christian Faith (eg: Caterpillar in cocoon emerging out as a Butterfly) for all round development of Nagaland. Charity begins at home. And actually Charity begins in your Heart. 4.Everybody talks about Corruption but Nobody talks about Anti-Corruption! Various Levels needing Change for All Round Development in Nagaland: 1.Personal Level: Be at your Best Be Patient, Kind, Forgiving and Disciplined. The world belongs to the disciplined. Have a Magnanimous Heart. 2.Family Level: Be at your Best Learn to be a good Father/ Mother. ‘Teach your children well’ goes a song. And Children learn to be Obedient. The present trend of “It’s my Life, it’s my wish to do whatever I like” should be reversed. 3.School Level: Be at your Best Be a good Student; Study hard. Teachers can facilitate this by going the extra mile. 4.Higher Education Level: Be at your Best Create Institute of Excellence like Medical College (to continue to have a Political will to transform CIHSR aka Referral Hospital to a Medical college, Engineering College.to nurture the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Chumukedima, Nagas from all walks of life to help Nagaland University to grow etc. 5.Workplace: Be at your Best If you are a Sweeper, be a good Sweeper if a Teacher, be a good Teacher if a Doctor, be a good Doctor if a Gazetted Officer be a good Gazetted Officer if an MLA be a good MLA. If a Contractor, be a good one. “Enjoy your Work since you’ll spend 1/3rd of your lifespan at work.” 6. Society / NGO’s Level: Be at your Best “To Work as if you are working for God and not unto man.” 1.Naga Hohos: a precious Institution... need To Know the right way, Show the right way and Go the right way. Naga Customary laws are precious and needs to be promoted 2.ACAUT: a bold and spontaneous Movement against so many ills plaguing Naga-land or rather Tax-land; NOT Naga-land! If anyone be martyred for
this cause or for the Naga imbroglio, it may spark a people’s revolution like the Arab Spring & a possible bloodshed may ensue all across Nagaland in the form of Civil war! God forbid. 3.NSF/ENSF: Should they keep quiet about the vexed Naga saga? Can they play a central role in solving the Naga Political dilemma? They have the widest and most daring platform upto the GRASSROOTS level to initiate a mass movement into the remotest part of Nagaland for the future of the coming younger generations. Recently we witnessed if it was Total Bandh, it was Total Bandh. 7. Church Level: Be at your Best We need Holy Pastors/Priests not merely boring/knowledgeable Pastors/Priests. This applies to the congregations as well. Almost all of us are Hypocrites. Just 50-50% Christian, neither hot nor cold. The Church/ the Christian Faith is the soul of Nagaland …is the core Engine of Nagaland and when the Engine is sick how can the Car run?? Can you tell me without good Engine in the soul of each Naga, can there be all round development in Nagaland? I fear we will all go back to square one! Lord help us to repair our Engines. 8. Naga Political Movement Level: Be at your Best India will never grant Independence to Nagaland. Neither can we fight against the mighty emerging Asian Giant even until the second coming of Christ! What shall we do? Can the triad of Naga Hohos, NSF and FNR along with ALL the Underground Factions/ Naga National Workers (especially the Executive Committee of all Factions) come together and Reason together? The Naga National Workers need to be given some tangible source of income called as Rehabilitation, otherwise taxations CANNOT be stopped no matter how much we shout. Will the formation of NNG (Naga National Govt.) solve the problem? Can it bring an end to various Syndicates & Taxations? Something good must happen before Bloodshed occurs in Nagaland in the form of Civil war. Nagaland is boiling like a Pressure cooker for some decades & it’s about to Burst now from WITHIN not from without! It will have devastating collateral damage on us all. COME LET US REASON TOGETHER BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. And what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his soul…Let us not be Selfish in such a time as this.
Opinion is a theme-based supplement published on the third Saturday of every month. Here you are the artist, the writer, the photographer, the storyteller and the creator of your own opinion. The articles do not reflect the position of the newspaper.
1