Keep the Lines Open

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2025-07-31 | 23:40h
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2025-08-01 | 09:40h
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mokokchungtimes.com
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The recent disruption along the Mokokchung–Mariani route following stricter enforcement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Nagaland highlights a complex and delicate issue. While the intent behind the ILP drive to regulate undocumented entries and uphold indigenous protections is understandable and even necessary, its implementation has once again revealed the fault lines in administrative communication, coordination, and public engagement.

The abrupt reaction from transporters in Assam, halting the movement of goods and tourist vehicles into Nagaland through Mokokchung, not only exposed logistical vulnerabilities but also revealed a larger concern: a lack of timely, transparent dialogue between authorities and stakeholders. In times of policy enforcement or crisis, the role of the press becomes indispensable, not just as a chronicler of events but as a conduit for timely dissemination of verified information to the public. This makes it all the more troubling that when Mokokchung Times attempted to reach designated district officials on Thursday through contact numbers earlier circulated by the district administration for reporting suspected illegal immigrants, most calls went unanswered.

Such lapses can cause uncertainty, fuel misinformation, and escalate already tense situations. Open and responsive communication channels are not a luxury; they are a necessity in a functioning democracy. If the government expects cooperation and trust from the public, it must uphold transparency not only through press releases or clarifications after the fact, but through proactive engagement at all levels.

The involvement of the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) in appealing for coordination and highlighting shortages of essential goods and commodities shows that civil bodies are willing to collaborate. But their complaint that they were not consulted by the district administration should be taken seriously. Policies with direct impact on economic lifelines must involve key stakeholders in the decision-making process from the outset.

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What this episode teaches us is that enforcement without consultation leads to resistance, and governance without communication breeds confusion. If Nagaland’s ILP regime is to succeed in safeguarding local interests, it must be coupled with clarity, cooperation, and credible communication. Authorities must not only enforce the law but also ensure that the people understand it. And the press remains the best bridge for that understanding. Keep the lines open.

MT

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