“We have a system where everything favors those who have close ties to the rich and powerful” – CNCCI President
B20- a fantastic chance for India, a huge opportunity for Nagaland and North East India, but how far will it reach? According to critics, Nagaland will once again skip the bus of progress!
An event focusing on agriculture and food processing, which subsequently embraced the tourism and IT sectors, is receiving varied reactions as the Nagaland government starts its first day with some delectable cultural events.
However, critics contend that B20 is only for a small group of people from Kohima and Dimapur and does nothing for the greater benefit of the general public.
Talking with Mokokchung Times, the President of the Confederation of Nagaland Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI), Dr. Khekugha Muru while recognizing the opportunity that B20 brings for India and Nagaland, voiced worry that the State government might skip the bus once again.
“We have not done enough groundwork over the decades to attract good investment. We still have electricity shortages; we lack infrastructure such as decent roads; and we lack an effective industrial policy, to name a few,” he said.
He also voiced his displeasure, stating, “We have become so artificial.”
“The government of Nagaland has become so artificial. What is the need for putting up green shade nets for the stretch in between Kohima to Dimapur and covering up the shabby area? Everybody knows Nagaland is still struggling to develop and some shabbiness is a reality so we should be honest enough to let the delegates know what to expect,” he opined.
“If we try to project that everything is smooth and in place, we are giving investors false hope that they can make the investment. But when they return the next day to invest and discover that there is no power, no proper road, and no proper communications, we end up losing them,” he added.
However, if we paint a realistic picture then accordingly, they will calibrate their investment.
“For example, they want to spend Rs 100 crore in machinery; but when they arrive, they discover that there is no road to transport those machines or that they must install windmills to generate energy, so instead of investing, they leave. This is not the first time this has happened,” he pointed out.
He went on to add that the state always projects Kohima and Dimapur as representative of the entire state in order to conceal the “other side” of the state from distinguished guests.
“So, until and unless the government is honest, it is a matter of concern,” he said.
When asked if he believes there is a gap between the event and the broader public, he concurred, saying that some of the business body has a common saying that the government is comfortable only with a small section of the people.
“We have a system where everything favors those who have close ties to the rich and powerful,” he said, adding that the divide is becoming more visible.
Tsukti Longkumer, President of the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) stated that there has been no direct communication about the event from the government or the department concerned.
“Apart from reading about it in the newspaper, I know nothing about it in depth, including its benefits. President of CNCCI informed me that we have been invited as delegates, but other than that, no communication has been received from any department,” he said.
He felt that such an event should have drawn district administrations from all the districts and that all Nagas should have been allowed to participate and share the benefits with the rest of the state. However, he noticed that the majority of people were unaware of the event.
“As president of MCCI, if I am in the dark as this, I doubt the people in general will even be aware about the event,” he said.
According to one of the B20 invitees, he received the invite on Monday evening. However, he stated that there was a lack of coordination.
“I understand that this is a first in Nagaland, so we will learn about it as we go, but there has been a lack of coordination so far. I’ve had various departments claiming to be the nodal department call me; even police coordination appears to be unclear,” he said.
In terms of improvements, he suggested, “I wish there was an open registration for those who wished to participate, followed by a screening process. There may be investors pouring in, but if you are from the unorganized sector, you may miss out. Everyone should be provided the chance.”
Tümüzo, a research scholar based in Kohima shared that he discovered about the event only because his institution is engaged in it; otherwise, he said, not many are conscious of it nor are they concerned.
“I feel like the government does a really bad job in connecting with the public. It is not only with these events but there is almost no government statistics for each district. And the only way to get data is to connect with people,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Temsu, a college student from Mokokchung stated, “From what I understand, Nagaland is hosting the final leg of the B20 summit in Kohima, and massive preparations in Kohima and Dimapur have been visible through the media.”
However, he believes that people outside of these two districts are unaware of what is going on because the state government machinery only considers Kohima as the mirror of Nagaland.
“Our two districts are gaining international traction, while the rest of the districts are slipping away as a result of not realizing their full potential. It could have been interesting if the event was planned in Eastern Nagaland since Kohima and Dimapur have already held so many events,” he added.
However, a student from Kohima stated, “I read about them in the newspaper but I am not even interested in B20 because I have this preconceived notion that it is going to be for a small group of individuals tightly associated with political power.”