14 in Class I and VII under the

Facts of figures N agaland chief minister Neiphu Rio’s 2020- 21 budget estimate was anything but a sugar-coated pill despite a hefty increase of Rs.21,068.85 crore against Rs.17,606.48 crore for 2019-20. The two financial years show that the 2020- 21 budget has an increase by Rs.3462.37crore. Earlier when Rio presented his 2019-20 budget the estimated deficit was Rs.1,611.98 crore while in his 2020-21 budget ,the deficit was estimated at Rs.2358.81 crore. No new tax was proposed in the 2019-20 budget but in the 2020-21 budget Rio raised duties on petroleum and also on transport and heavy machineries. There is no debate that the huge financial deficit faced by the government of Nagaland should have ignited spontaneous clamour for stringent austerity drives by cutting down on unproductive entertainments, funding token populist projects etc. It remains to be seen as to how the state would be able to greatly reduce this huge deficit since it is less likely that the Centre would grant a substantial amount to do that. Even raising new taxes will not be able to make up the deficit. The consequences of such a situation will only lead to continuation of an inability to provide for state share for central projects. It will be wrong to blame the financial mess on the politicians only. Bureaucrats in Nagaland have also been responsible, if not mostly, for fiscal indiscipline. Part of the problem is that handling of the finance portfolio seems to be confined to meeting the requirements of politicians in getting money to spend . However the ‘getting’ is mostly from the Centre with very little scope for own revenue income. More money does not necessarily translate into improvement of the economy or funding projects to achieve a significant improvement of the condition. If there is another area where the state government needs to look at seriously in order to bring about some measure of financial accountability for enforcing prudent and judicious use of funds. The core issue of good governance is much needed to promote a conducive climate for economic progress. The understanding of proper budgetary management is the saying that one should cut one’s cloth according to one’s size. In this regard, austerity is called for. The state has one of the highest rate of employed in the government, which is eating away around 60% of the budget. This has left very little for needed development projects. The 14th Finance Commission has suggested that planning needs to focus on demography and the GDP of a state and also linking outlays to outputs and outcomes. A state with hardly 20 lakh people and with around 1,40,000 employed which continues to grow. Now there was this suggestion to bring down the number but it is easier said than done. It is quite interesting, that the government continues to hold the belief that the annual ten-day event –Hornbill Festival- has been a roaring success in terms of estimated revenue for unidentified beneficiaries. The benefits out from the ten-day event is essentially a far stretched argument. What ought to be the focus is in for the government to play a catalysing role for progress and not a key player. This will encourage private participation and an all-year round engagement beyond a ten-day event. The fundamentals of economic infrastructure such as power, roads, telecommunications, municipal services etc. is another area where the State will need to consider in playing a continuing catalytic role.

Daily Devotion

The Inspiration of Spiritual Initiative Arise from the dead… —Ephesians 5:14 Not all initiative, the willingness to take the first step, is inspired by God. Someone may say to you, “Get up and get going! Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard— just do what needs to be done!” That is what we mean by ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes to us and says, in effect, “Get up and get going,” suddenly we find that the initiative is inspired.

We all have many dreams and aspirations when we are young, but sooner or later we realize we have no power to accomplish them. We cannot do the things we long to do, so our tendency is to think of our dreams and aspirations as dead. But God comes and says to us, “Arise from the dead….” When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to “arise from the dead” and do the impossible. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we “get up and get going.” God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. When the inspiration of God comes, and He says, “Arise from the dead…,” we have to get ourselves up; God will not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand, “Stretch out your hand” (Matthew 12:13). As soon as the man did so, his hand was healed. But he had to take the initiative. If we will take the initiative to overcome, we will find that we have the inspiration of God, because He immediately gives us the power of life.

When I get logical, and I don’t trust my instincts - that’s when I get in trouble.

~ Angelina Jolie Shivaji Sarkar D elhi assembly election goes to soft inclusive skills against the campaigning on hard on issues of identity. It is also a vote for people’s struggle for survival against hardcore finances and a non-relief central budget to the common man.

Money is the core in this election. It signifies the comfort or hardship the people are facing. The welfare measures, often called freebies, touch average middle class and the poor – the unorganized working class, who cannot afford a ride on Delhi metro. “It is expensive, we cannot afford”, the common refrain in the Delhi’s jhuggi-jhopri slum clusters.

Aam Aadmi party chief minister Arvind Kejriwal touched that cord, presented a soft, peoplefriendly accessible face. The poor and middle class voted for him, over many BJP campaigners across the city despite some vote surge for the party, largely cashing on the core Congress votes that split between the AAP and BJP. That raised the tally to 8 from 3 for BJP and slight loss to 62 for AAP.

Delhi BJP’s hope that a stronger Congress would help split AAP votes was belied as Congress preferred an AAP victory even at its annihilation. Many see it as strategy of the Congress for not unlikely future opposition alliance.

As per Delhi BJP’s assessment a small percentage of elite Congress voters opted for BJP, the larger chunk – the poor, women and minorities – went to AAP.

It has hit the BJP poll managers of West Bengal, scheduled to go to the polls early 2021. State party chief Dilip Ghosh wants to go the hard identity way. The softer face Swapan Dasgupta, MP, wants “ideological issues supplemented by a solid governance agenda as also a chief ministerial face”. Dasgupta being a journalist may have read the people’s mind. People in this country still vote for core issues of “rozi-rotitalim (education)”. That has kissed Kejriwal with victory against his nonchallant opponent.

The Shaheen Baghtype CAA protests needs to be read also as expression against the discomforting economic policies that have unnerved the people.

The raise of Rs 145 raise of LPG prices, steepest since January 2014 of Rs 220, the very next day of the elections, possibly confirms their fear.

Dasgupta like many BJP workers echo that sentiment. A chief ministerial face possibly does not matter. The UP elections where BJP did not project a face, Maharashtra, Chhhattisgarh, Rajasthan, where it had faces prove that.

The BJP was voted to power with great expectations after the failure of Manmohanomics of UPA. It was expected to shun it and chart out a new economics. Somehow it fell into, as many experts say, the Congress trap and led to compromise its basic propeople manifesto.

Interestingly enough, despite that its key leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, still rules the heart and minds of the people. Even during Delhi elections that was evident. People want him but as many Delhi poor say he needs to care more for them with ease on taxes, rail fares, high bank charges, high atrocious toll rates, falling interest rates on deposits, and a budget that denies them necessary reliefs.

Average middle class wonders why his ten-yearold fine car be junked to help car makers, as the finance minister says. For the Delhiites, Kejriwal signifies that relief.

These issues interestingly enough were not vocal poll issues. But if one moved around in the city whether in the posh Connaught Place or nondescript Madangiri or vocal Shaheen Bagh, the people were not afraid of CAA but the rising cost of living – food and shelter rents included. Yes, the Delhiites discussed more the consumer price index inflation which has spiked to 7.59 percent in January against 7.35 percent in December.

The latest LPG price rise has led many within the BJP to rue the subsidies they willingly gave up to a national call. In the time of a wobbling economy, even the few hundred rupees saved – like Kerjiwal’s subsidies on electricity water and education – matter. It has led to another discussion whether the government should have the right to raise commodity prices and rail fares or should any government control the public sector.

Even in shadow BJP organisations, not only the shredded Left, discuss within, whether like the FRBM Act there should be a law binding on all governments to keep off the public sector organisations including RBI, LIC and Bharat Petro type companies.

Even there are questions on why private sector Reliance refinery should sell its stakes to Saudi Arab’s Aramco. It is a national issue. Private sector is also considered by the people as national asset.

People are discussing economic nationalism. The political parties caring for the last man need to have the heart to understand what shapes Indian politics. They praise BJP for decimating Pakistan after the Pulwama terrorist attack but now they are more concerned of their economic safety. The political parties need to articulate that.

Kejriwal is tactfully smart. He skillfully avoided identity trap and created new Hanuman narrative. Whether this touched Hindu voters or split them needs scrutiny. But he could rally round the poor jhuggi voters who have more Hanuman temples around them than that of Ram.

This might open up creating new Hindutva icons in the days to come. Delhi elections throw up new test for future politicians of having identities on shirt-sleeves. The high voltage campaign against Kejriwal succumbed to skilled ex-income-tax officer reading the pulse of the people. He made the voter choose for performance over animosity. The future of Indian politics does not make BJP weaker. Its core ground remains intact and polarization is sharp. It has to deliberate whether to ride that horse alone or also have core people-friendly economic decoratives too. The opposition, howsoever, united needs to worry more. It has not given any ideological or economic narrative. Indian economy needs re-definition after 30 years of liberalized loot of over Rs 50 lakh crore by all those who could across the spectrum. It calls for replacing an insulting policy of “if you want facility you have to pay for it”. The future would belong to anyone who can chart out welfare economics with lower taxes/fares, a strong balance sheet and improved living standards, in short, happiness for all. Politics needs to understand India is waiting for that beautiful day. Delhi votes for economic nationalism

Post-mortem

Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner. Reader’s Post Communitization policy in Nagaland government schools (From previous issue)

How can teachers teach in the school without being paid 4 to 8 months salary in a year? How can teachers teach if there are no students in the school? Is Naga Society such so advanced to insult Government teachers? Under whose idea Government teachers are not being paid for more than 4 -8 months on a regular basis. Is it the present Government policy of good governance or community ideas to lead teachers to keep proxy and blaming the teachers’ community in the ground level or is this the award and respect we Nagas give to our dedicated Government teachers. If there were no Government teachers in Nagaland for the past 30-40 years ago, I’m sure today many officers or intellectual people who are insulting teachers today might be in the villages cutting firewood, or doing paddy field, and fishing in the rivers.

During my field research interview, one elderly teacher who was a District Teachers Awardee, told me that he was never absent in his school since 15 years of teaching in primary school but these days, whenever I go when I say I’m teaching in the Government school in the village, people look down at him in many ways. Is this is the Naga society’s respect for honest Government teachers today? It is high time Government and community play major roles to respect honest and dedicated teachers because of few lazy teachers all honest and dedicated teachers should not be blame and ignore, as there are many honest, sincere and dedicated teachers in Nagaland even today who are praying for the Naga future.

Today, in Nagaland, there are lots of qualified teachers but it is seen from the sources, many upgraded schools is running by RMSA and SSA, Hindi teachers, however they are given step motherly treatment by the Department in paying of their salary since their appointment. How can we expect such teachers to be dedicated when we don’t provide the basic necessities? How can we force such teachers to be regular in the school when department don’t pay their salary for more than 4-8 months? Did anyone in the society ever imagine such life conditions? Is this is the gift we Naga people are trying to give freely to Government teachers.

One SSA teachers told me that since the date of his appointment in 2013, his salary is not regular, and receiving their salary is a long procedure in the salary disbursement process in the country. He said to get last 4 to 8 month pending salary, SSA group official/ executives has to go at least 10-15 phone calls to official in-charge and visit at least 10 times to SDEO/DEO office and School Education Directorate office and sometimes to Secretariat Kohima to meet School Education Secretary office after that the Directorate and its people ask to go to the finance department and sometimes the department official would ask them to go to the CMO office as the file had gone to the Chief Minister’s office, and wait for a month, and some time errors in the files, then only they get salary hardly for 1/2 months pending salary. This procedure continues. How can we expect such category of teachers to be regular when their salary is not being paid? Do they not have family or are they not living beings?

Last but not the least, I would say that in Nagaland, communitization policy has many positives stories however, the negative impact can be seen at grass roots level after the implementation of SSA/RMSA Scheme, it is high time the Government and department to actually look into the matter seriously, if needed communitization policy can be declared null and void if mechanism authority is having problems in taking an action and checking the proxy teachers. Moreover, irregular and lazy teachers can be terminated if found guilty and give chance to unemployed youth who are willing to serve for the Naga generation but firstly mechanism authority must do some homework to see the reason behind the proxy. Is it the fault of Teachers or Department or VEC/Community regarding the proxy? Are teachers are in the middle, no students in their school and VEC forcing them to keep proxy or is the department keeping qualified teachers in the zero enrollment schools and just blaming the teachers without their action using different agendas or teachers are irresponsible, they want salary and are not willing to teach. Recently education department has notified with regard to the Teachers Dairy to be implemented from this academic session, it is a positive approached. Besides, it is good that if authority should also see the actual condition of the school before implementing teachers’ diary whether the school is actually running with students or not? Moreover, keeping biometric system attendance can be the best techniques to check regularity of the teachers it is also suggested to the delivery authority to initiate IT-Cell in the department to control the daily activities of the school across the state, district wise, block level fieldofficers must be encourage to report video Documentation on school for daily activities,. If video documentation can be implemented, 100 percent changes cannot be guarantee but at least the irregular teachers, fake enrollment school and the zero enrollment school can be seen within 3/5 months in an authenticate ways. It is a high time, mechanism authority should see and if needed down-grade the School where there is no enrollment as it is learnt many newly upgraded GHS /GMS has no enrollment in the state, which lead to keep proxy in the school. Why don’t authorities transfer teachers from such school to the right places/ school where teachers are shortage instead of speaking about proxy in the media every time? It is high time the department should rationalize the schools, as it is conclusion from many sources that due to qualified teachers posting and keeping in fewer enrollments and zero enrollment GHS/ GMS schools invite proxy teachers in Nagaland.

Moreover, New Education Policy emphasis on Multilingualism, School Based Assessment (SBA), in the teaching process, more educated and more updated teachers is needed in the present education system, it is a high time Government/department and different NGOs working in the education field should focus more on skill development training and refresher course amongst the teacher’s community to update latest information for better teaching in the school.

(Concluded) Thsazila, Teacher (Education) St. Paul Higher Secondary School, Dimapur (zizirudy@gmail.com) T he DAN Government in the year 2003, the first non-Congress party Government in the state of Nagaland after fifteen years of Congress rule. In view of the generous grant of Rs. 365 Crores, the Hon’ble Prime Minister package of Rs. 1050 Crores and the highest step up in plan allocations from Rs. 424 Crores in 2002-03 to Rs. 760 Crores in 2003-04, an increase of Rs. 336 Crores, the budget in 2003 was presented with a projected surplus of Rs. 18.47 Crores. The non-Congress Governments are in continuous rule in the State till date. The Hon’ble Chief Minister who holds the crucial portfolio of Finance had presented the budget for the year 2020-21 on 13-02-2020 with an accumulated estimated closing deficit of Rs. 2358.81 Crores. The astronomical increase of budget deficits speaks volumes of fiscal indiscipline, mismanagements, corruptions etc by successive governments since 2003. It requires a serious introspection and prompt corrective measures especially by the people in power. In view of the economic slowdown of the country the state share of Taxes is reduced, delay in payment of the state share of the GST and the unreleased Civil Deposits, net payment of the Seventh ROP the projected deficit may increase. The common public is further burdened by the enhancement on the rate of duty on diesel from 10% to 14.5%, from 20.38% in petrol and motor spirit to 25%, raising the road maintenance cess on petroleum products from Rs.1.50 paise per litre to Rs.2 per litre. In view of the present highest inflation in the country, the recent steep hike of the price of LPG cylinder by the Central Government and the aforesaid proposed increase in petrol and diesel prices by the state, the price of essential commodities shall continue to rise and make the lives of the common people more miserable. The state of Nagaland was established through a political agreement in the year 1963. In view of political necessities, backwardness and to facilitate adequate representations in the initial years, people were appointed without interviews in most of the subordinate and ministerial services. In the year 2003, the total number of government servants were about 95,000 to 96,000 and which has been presently increased to about 127889, it is inclusive of 14220 CSS employees as per the latest official record. The public employment in Nagaland had reached a saturation point. The successive governments due to lack of industries and private entrepreneurship in the state could not streamline the appointments in government jobs. The State Government as a model employer over the years, could not maintain fairness and transparency in public employment. All successive governments are guilty of backdoor appointments. The budget for the year 2020-2021 project a receipts of Rs.20826.02 Crores and expenditure of Rs.21049.87 Cores. A break up of the expenditure: Non–development expenditure of Rs.8715.30 Crores, debt servicing including repayment of WMA at Rs.6241.42 Crores and a meagre expenditure on development including CSS at Rs.6093.15 Crores. The expenditure on development is about 34% of the total budget and which is subject to receipt of the CSS from the Central Government. The remaining 66 % to be spent mainly on debt servicing and salaries, pensions etc. The problem shall be further compounded since the actual net payment of the Seventh ROP of all the state employees shall be with effect from 01-03-2020. As clearly admitted by the Government in the budget speech dated 13-02-2020, the ratio of Government employees to the population in Nagaland is among the highest in the North East and perhaps even in the country. The time has come for the State Government to take a drastic step before the state lands up in a perpetual debt trap. A report as published in the India Express on 26-06-2019, Nagaland has the highest un - employment rate among the states at 21.4%, and Meghalaya the lowest at 1.5%, figures tabled by the Government in Parliament reports. Periodic Labour Force Survey for 2017- 18 which had been reported earlier, even if Union Territories are also included in the comparison, Nagaland still tops the list. The India unemployment rate as on December, 2019 was 7.7%. Unless and until there is a paradigm change in the educational system, change of mental attitude of the youths from a Government job seeker to private entrepreneurship, to be a job creator not a seeker and respect for dignity of labour, there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

(To be concluded) Taka Masa Ao, Ex-MLA Parking right Sir,

Parking right has always been a problem in a place like Kohima, where some vehicle owner will still insist on parking at awkward positions. There are some who have a habit of parking right outside a private residence gate, creating much inconvenience for the house owner. Such vehicles can be towed away by Traffic Police if the law is stringently followed. Azo Phesao, Kohima Budget deficit vis –a –vis backdoor appointments in Nagaland