Asserting that the recent development projects submitted by the state government to the Centre seemed to be concentrated primarily in one or two districts, the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) has reiterated its appeals for distribution of projects equally to all the districts.
CNTC through its media cell reminded that during the cultural exchange programme held in Wokha in May 2022, the Central Nagaland Legislature Forum, in the presence of CNTC, had unanimously passed a resolution urging the state government to ensure equal and justified development across all districts. Despite those resolutions, CNTC said it appeared that development initiatives continued to favour specific districts.
“Our concern deepens as we witness the entire state grappling with fundamental challenges, such as inadequate equipped drinking water facilities, unreliable power supply, poorly maintained roads, inadequately equipped hospitals, and a shortage of skilled manpower in critical sectors,” CNTC said. Therefore, the council said it was essential to address those issues promptly to uplift the standard of living of all the citizens. Nagaland, as the second oldest state in the North East region, with over 60 years of statehood, CNTC said expressed belief that it was time to critically asses the trajectory of development.
Further, CNTC acknowledged the need for corrective measures to ensure that government aligned with the principles of fairness and justice.
The council also asked the legislators, particularly those representing the remaining districts within CNTC jurisdiction, whether they have encountered in the process.
“We are keen to understand whether there has been any oversight or lack of awareness in this matter,” CNTC stated. Maintaining that whoever leads the government holds a mandate for the entire state, the CNTC reminded the government of its solemn duty to ensure that development initiatives were executed in a holistic and unbiased manner, benefitting all districts equitably. In light of the above, CNTC has urged the state government to review and reconsider all projects and priority lists submitted to the Centre during the current financial year.
It proposed that projects be resubmitted with detailed justifications, emphasizing equal distribution across all districts.