Department of Political Science, Dimpaur Government College (DGC) in collaboration with the Alumni Association DGC and Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) organised a symposium on “Towards a Citizen-Centered Non-Partisan Urban Local Governance” at Seminar Hall, DGC on Friday.
Speaking at the event, DMC councilor Sentinuklu said waste management posed a critical challenge to Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), with Dimapur alone producing 100 tons of waste daily.
He said, “Despite commendable efforts by DMC, issues such as waste collection and segregation continue to persist due to limited infrastructure and weak enforcement of policies”.
He said the current dumping site in Sunrise Colony, Burma Camp, since 2000 is facing a space crisis, with no proper recycling facilities available.
Asserting that public cooperation was essential for effective waste management, he said, “One of the biggest obstacles is public behavior”. He lamented that many citizens view waste disposal solely as the duty of the municipal council rather than a shared civic responsibility.
Cautioning that unmanaged waste contributes to environmental hazards and urged citizens to actively participate in waste management initiatives. “The government alone cannot manage waste without public cooperation. Waste management is not just an administrative duty but a civic responsibility”, he stated.
Sentinuklu also highlighted persistent challenges faced by DMC despite the long-awaited Urban Local Body (ULB) elections held last year after gap of two-decade.
He said while the elections marked a crucial step forward, many challenges lied ahead and DMC was struggling with day to day administrative hurdles. He however added that DMC was trying its best to solve problem one after another. He discussed several present key issues, which included sanitation, waste management, and community involvement.
Delivering the keynote address, president, Alumni Association DGC, and Editor-in-Chief, Tir Yimyim, K Temjen Jamir, stressed on the importance of collective responsibility in urban governance.
He expressed optimism that the recent municipality elections would lead to significant transformations, not just for residents but also for visitors for Dimapur.
He asserted that everyone has a role in making Dimapur a beautiful and livable city, mentioning that Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) should function as citizen-centered public committees.
He appealed to Dimapur residents to move beyond being passive spectators and instead take ownership of urban governance issues. The symposium featured two key discussions, “Strengthening Urban Local Bodies within the Existing Legal Framework in the Face of Internal & External Politics”, by Principal Secretary, Law & Justice and Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, Y Kikheto Sema, and “Urban Local Governance: Citizens’ Perspective”, by Publisher and Editor, The Morung Express, Dr. Akum Longchari.
Speaking on urbanization and governance, Y Kikheto Sema highlighted the rapid urban expansion was a positive change for national development. Dwelling on urbanization scenario in Nagaland, he dwelled on how the number of Town Committee in the state rose from one in 1901 to 39 ULBs presently, signifying state’s progress
He further stressed on the importance of equipping ULBs with the “3Fs”, Functions, Funds, and Functionaries, so as to ensure effectiveness. Dwelling on the topic, he cautioned against excessive interference from multiple organizations and associations, mentioning that governance cannot progress effectively when weighed down by internal and external politics. He also cited on the recent discussion held at the NLA session on mushrooming of unions and associations.
He later quoted Romans 13:1, “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established”.
Meanwhile,Dr Longchari provided historical insights into Nagaland’s ULB structure and its governance challenges, and highlighted the need for making a management shift from top town to bottom up, supporting peoples’ common interest, building social cohesion, enhance public interest and participation, etc.
He emphasized that urban governance should not only focus on infrastructure and policy implementation but should also address systemic issues such as corruption, lack of strategic planning, and public disengagement.
Dr Longchari further dwelled on role and functions of ULBs as critical importance in enabling grassroots participatory governance, and said this required citizens’ voices to be heard.
He shared several practical lamentations made by residents, such as, “No Master Plan for the Towns”, “Absence of Good Dependable Public Transportation”, “Waste management as a huge challenge”, etc.
He also cited several immediate practical suggestions, such as “ULB leaders need to publicly and consistently demonstrate clear intent through words and actions of their commitment to deliver efficient, effective and equitable governance”, “Initiate confidence-building programs to restore trust, accountability that supports the institution”, “Develop better planning and improved coordination at various levels that supports implementing various programmes”, “Strengthen Active Citizen Participation”, etc.
In conclusion, he said in order to progress, foundational values, intentions of governance model, and power structures in the state needed to be identified and engaged in ways that address people’s basic human needs, honor their fundamental human rights. If not, he pointed genuine pursuit of inclusive human development would remain nothing more than an empty slogan with failed promises.
“Governance, therefore, is not about building an ideal, but involves creating a process that respects and upholds ethical values with integrity and dignity. It is about transforming the nature of institutions and making them more inclusive, accountable, responsive, humanistic, democratic, and people-oriented”, he said.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by Asso Prof, DGC, A Moamongla Aier, and welcome address by HoD, Dept of Political Science, DGC, Sedevino, and vote of thanks by Asso Prof, DGC, Dr G Phukato Sema.