Barely three months into the year and Nagaland has already witnessed two protests, with the possibility of another looming. First came the agitation by the All Nagaland Ad hoc Teachers’ Group 2015 Batch, demanding the regularization of 1,166 teachers appointed between 1994 and 2012. Their protest was only “temporarily” suspended after the Department of School Education gave written assurances. Soon after, the Nagaland Government Teachers’ Association, representing 2,293 SSA and RMSA teachers who were mainstreamed into the State Education Cadre in 2022, launched its own agitation demanding inclusion of its salary component under the State Non Development Expenditure. Their protest too has been put on “hold” after the intervention of the Naga Students’ Federation and the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation.
Even as the dust was settling from these protests in Kohima, another confrontation appears to be emerging. The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee has reminded the Public Works Department over delays in issuing work orders for the remaining divisions of the two-lane Foothills Road project. The ultimatum issued by 13 Dimapur-based tribal hohos expires on March 31. The committee has already asked the tribal bodies to prepare for “any democratic form of protest” if the government fails to respond.
These developments are not encouraging signs for governance in the state. The specific grievances may eventually be addressed, but the recurring pattern of agitation points to a deeper problem. It suggests that communication between the government and stakeholders often breaks down before matters reach a point of resolution. Protests then become the only way to draw attention to unresolved issues.
Addressing each protest individually is like treating the symptoms while ignoring the disease. The real challenge lies in improving governance itself. Good governance is not merely about responding after a crisis arises. It is about transparency, timely decision making, accountability and meaningful dialogue with the public. When institutions function effectively and policies are implemented consistently, the need for protests naturally diminishes.
Nagaland must therefore reflect on these early signs in the year. If governance becomes proactive rather than reactive, the cycle of recurring protests can be broken. Otherwise, the state risks spending more time, resources and energy managing unrest than pursuing development and stability.