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| Photo: Chief Minister (Nagaland) Neiphiu Rio |
Winding up the three-day long discussion on the demand for ‘Frontier Nagaland’ by Eastern Nagaland Public Organization (ENPO) at the ongoing budget session, the state chief minister Neiphiu Rio Monday appealed to NLA speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie to convey the “sense of the assembly” to ENPO to reconsider their demand for a separate state.
Acknowledging the speaker for extending the discussion for three days, Rio urged upon the speaker to convey the discussion and “sense” of the house to ENPO and appealed to ENPO to reconsider their decision so as to strengthen the unity of Naga society.
Agreeing with the members from treasury and opposition benches, particularly senior Congress members and admitting everyone “collectively failed”, the chief minister said people should work together with collective efforts to mould up the four districts and appealed to the ENPO to re-evaluate their decision.
He also urged ENPO to come forward to the government for dispensation on what would be best suited to accelerate the welfare of backward areas.
Rio said attention has to be focused towards the future of Naga people, adding that the government stood for unity and reconciliation and integration.
Stating that Nagas have to live as one family, he opined that people needed to realise their mistakes and address issues with more seriousness.
Admitting and agreeing with the members of the house that there was socio-economic backwardness and lack of human resources development in the ENPO areas, the chief minister however disagreed to the political dispensation.
He pointed out that there was Regional Council in 1963-74 in undivided Tuensang district, with a special provision to have a regional council with 35 members headed by DC as the chairman.
However, he stated that the chairman was less powerful than an MLA and had no financial power, so they decided to dissolve and participate in the state general elections from 1974 and were given 20 MLA seats.
The seriousness and historical status was given less importance and undivided Tuensang was neglected on all fronts, he said.
The chief minister stated that when statehood was created in 1963, the budget allocation for Tuensang area was 13.49% and utilization was 11.02 % and while the first ten years accumulated it was 12.94 % and utilization was 11.67 %.
He said the percentage allotted utilization was not fully done during the first ten years. He also said that from 1963-89 there was no question of surrendering the fund, but all the funds were and was ample chance for the state to develop many infrastructure, but had not done so.
“We did not utilise the funds given generously but we got the shock when 12th FC Award came and the Special Category State funding was changed in 1989”, Rio stated.
He said that in a democratic country, everyone had the right to submit memorandum to any agency to air their grievances. Stating that the ENPO demands for statehood could be culmination of frustration and outburst of their grievances being submitted to the highest body in the country, he said it was good that they (ENPO) had raised their voices otherwise people would continue to remain in dark and not take their grievances seriously. A total of 33 legislators both from ruling and opposition benches took part in the discussion.
Members take part in the discussion
Participating in the discussion, minister for power Doshehe Y. Sema said that he fully endorsed the views of other members, stating that the successive governments have failed to address the issue of the area.
He also felt that failure in maintaining equilibrium on socio-economic development in these areas by the successive governments resulted to the demand for separate statehood by ENPO.
He said that the entire government machinery, politicians-opposition and ruling, ex-legislators and members and contractors & suppliers were also to be blamed, adding, the government machinery could not formulate proper prospective plans for the four districts, which hurt the sentiments of the people.
The minister suggested that careful approach should be taken and all should put their heads together to bring out a prospective plan for these areas.
He also requested the ENPO to come forward and deliberate with the government so that the future generation would not blame the present generation.
Minister for planning and coordination T.R. Zeliang also voiced out concerns regarding frustrations and discriminations caused to the backward tribes. He said the sentiments of the people should be understood and that everyone should fight for total integration.
Minister for health and family welfare Kuzholuzo Nienu lauded the chief minister for taking initiative for the development of the backward people.
He said the DAN government has brought various developmental activities since it came to power in 2003 and felt that there has to be a paradigm shift in the attitude of the advance tribe towards the welfare of the people from the backward areas.
DUDA advisor E.E. Pangteang said many governments had come and gone during the last 48 years but the matter was been discussed for the first time now. He said that no one should point fingers at one another but work together on how best to solve the matter.
He pointed out that there was step-motherly treatment in development and employment front in the four districts, however, the DAN government in 2003 created DUDA and visible developments were taking place.
Parliamentary secretary printing and stationery and fisheries S. Heno said the chief minister has done a lot for the Eastern Nagas citing the instance of creation and upgradation in administration and new RD blocks.
Parliamentary secretary CAWD Torechu appealed to all to work together for the betterment of the Naga society and stated that during the last nine years there were visible developments in the four districts.
Parliamentary secretary for IPR R. Tohanba also stated that the 20 legislators from Eastern Nagaland has sat together and talked on working out the issue.
He was of the view that over the years many development activities have been neglected and suffered economically which added more grievances to the people.
Advisor art & culture Deo Nukhu suggested setting up of a Regional office of DUDA in Tuensang headed by project director and engineering wing should be created. He also suggested that cadres for the area should be made with special incentive and for a fixed period without being transferred, particularly teachers.
Congress MLA Kheto said that if members of ENPO from the treasury bench felt that the DAN government has been doing all the developmental activities and they were happy with the performance for the welfare of the people of the area, there was no use in discussing the issue in the flood of the Assembly.
Congress MLA Joshua Sumi said it was sad that demand for separation has started amongst the people. He said the state was very small, and to be disintegrated was “unimaginable”. He also said that government should be serious in implementing the special schemes for the backward people.
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