NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu in an article, has said “bad economy is bad politics” and that “economic Independence is of no less important to political independence,” while drawing links between managing politics and managing economics.
He rued that Nagas have become more dependent unlike the early days, when their forefathers used to proudly say that there were no beggars in Nagaland. However, he said today “we have many beggars neatly dressed and nicely behaved which sometime we find difficult to believe our eyes”.
He also cited few past examples of mismanagement in the government, as reflected in Assembly records. One pertained to the Horticulture department which admitted that in a particular year, it produced four and a half kgs of coffee from one major district after giving lot of subsidy to the farmers for past few successive years. In another instance, he referred to a Bee-keeping centre, which had six staff looking after 10 bee colonies.
He said all these produced only 30 bottles of honey in a year. When asked what happened to the 30 bottle, Dr. Shürhozelie citing the records disclosed that the Minister replied that all the 30 bottles were presented to the officers and so there was no income.
In another case, Dr. Shürhozelie cited the case of a piggery farm with 24 staff but having not a single pig for several years. He said these were some of the examples of mismanagement that happened in the past. He also cited the practise where contracts for road construction were approved at Rs.700 to Rs.800 above approved schedule of rates.
Also, he said assembly records also reveal that the state transport department which had bought 100 new buses, admitted loss while operating various routes.
Dr. Shürhozelie also cited reports wherein it was stated that annually Rs.400 crore are taken out of the state by outside labourers involved in RCC works alone.
He said such type of spending greatly weakens the circulation of money in the State.
Even on election, he said some religious leaders succumb to money power while youths also succumb to money and alcohol. Worse, he said in some polling stations in some villages, the number of votes cast exceed the population of the village.
Citing the Governor’s recent Republic Day speech wherein it was stated the “guns and corruption” are the two evils plaguing the state, Dr. Shürhozelie said it was the substance of his article.