The formation of the Naga Hills Tuensang Area in 1957, as an independent administrative unit separate from Assam was the one single reason that enabled the creation of Nagaland state.
But even after 63 years, the tag of has remained with Eastern Nagaland. Naga politicians irrespective of parties have clearly failed the people of Eastern Nagaland. Political parties talk about the upliftment of Eastern Nagaland but it only boils down to appease of the few and hardship for the rest.
The disparity in development fund allocations is just too wide. This is not what the “Naga Hills Tuensang Area Act 1957” had envisaged.
Instead of giving Eastern Nagaland its due share, the state government manipulated funds through its unwritten policy of denying Eastern Nagaland because it is still backward.
For that matter, even as Kohima district always gobbles up much more than its fair share of development funds as the Capital district, the rest of the districts have to make do with what is left.
To the government of Nagaland, its policy seems to revolving on letting Eastern Nagaland remain backward so as to avail funds from the centre in the name of backwardness.
The discrimination that the eastern Naga people faced was very visible even during this time of health emergency due to the Covid pandemic. It was seen that stranded eastern Naga people coming back home were treated as second class citizens.
Having faced heavy criticism, the government has now committed to setting up a BSL virology laboratory in Tuensang. Setting up a lab, however, is not going to save lives.
What the eastern Naga people require is a complete overhaul of the health infrastructure and its functioning.
It is time the government start working for the people and not take advantage of the backwardness of eastern Nagaland.
The WSH understands and empathize with the eastern Naga people. Our hearts goes out to the suffering eastern Naga people in these difficult times.
Dr. Kakheto Zhimomi, President,Western Sumi Hoho