"Ground rules must be adhered to by all" : S.C. Jamir

Talking to Nagaland Chief Minister S. C. Jamir is always a pleasure. Unlike most of the politicians, he never hesitates to express his views.

Fear of controversy does not deter him to speak what he thinks is best for his State and the nation. His straight-forwardness and plain talking always make the job of an interviewer easy.

Recently, the North East News Agency met Mr. Jamir to enquire from him about what steps his Government has taken so far to bring Nagaland on a par with the other mainland States in terms of development especially in the wake of prevailing peace in the State. Also to learn about his plans to help the unemployed youths in finding a livelihood, which he promised before the start of his term in February last and the progress of the peace process.

In a free and frank interview with NENA, Mr. Jamir discusses all issues relating to the State.

Excerpts of the interview:

North East News Agency: As peace is now prevailing in Nagaland, what steps has your Government initiated to expedite the developmental process in the State?

S. C. Jamir: At the outset, let me tell you one thing very clearly that peace or unrest, it has always been my Government’s endeavour to develop the State; having proper infrastructural facilities in the State. Even during the most turbulent times also, we never lost our way and continued with our efforts to bring Nagaland on a par in terms of development with other developed States of the country.

Coming back to the main question, we have already sanctioned funds for a power plant and university. The Dimapur flyover will be completed shortly. Hopefully before March 1999. The works for the Indira Gandhi Stadium and Sports Complex is also going on in full swing. We have sanctioned necessary funds so that the project work is not hampered. We have sanctioned funds for the upgradation of Kohima Hospital also. For a resource-starved State like ours, taking up so many developmental projects simultaneously is no mean achievement.

NENA: It seems that the prevailing peace in the State is helping your Government to expedite the developmental process.

S. C. J.: As I told you earlier, we never lost our focus on development. Of course, unrest makes our task difficult. But we made it a point not to succumb before these destructive forces. The people were always with us. They knew that if the developmental process is stopped, the future of Nagaland becomes bleak. Thus developmental process continued in the State despite oppositions from some vested quarters.

NENA: You have mentioned Nagaland as resource-starved State. Let’s talk about its present financial situation?

S. C. J.: We have salvaged the State quite a lot from financial quagmire. In the current fiscal year we never ran into overdraft. To me it’s an achievement.

NENA: How was it made possible?

S. C. J.: We took many stringent steps for improving the financial situation of the State. It is better managed now. We have fastened our belts and kept a close watch so that the State Government did not incur any unnecessary expenditure. I am happy that our sincere efforts have started yielding fruits.

NENA: As you are holding the finance portfolio, credit should go to you...

S. C. J.: The credit for this achievement should be given to my collegues and my officers. Without their support it was impossible to streamline the economy of the State.

NENA: In an earlier interview you spoke about some specific plans you had for the unemployed youths of the State. Would you tell us how far you have been successful in this regard?

S.C. J.: My Government is inspiring the youths to go for self-employment. For this we are ready to provide them loans and other necessary assistance. We are encouraging self-employment for two reasons. Firstly the government sector is overburdened and also it is in no position to absorb all the unemployed in its fold. Secondly, if the youths succeed in their venture, it will generate more resources for the State.

NENA: To establish the young entrepreneurs in their respective fields will the State Government provide any subsidy?

S. C. J.: No. I am strongly against providing any subsidy to any entrepreneurs. As I told you earlier that we should provide them loans and other necessary assistance in the beginning. But after that it is their job to make their units economically viable. We are always ready to help them. But I do not want them to sit idle and always look for getting subsidy from the State Government. This subsidy culture should go. If a unit is not economically viable, even Government subsidy will not be able to bring it on rails.

NENA: Apart from encouraging in self-employment, do you have any other plans to provide jobs to the unemployed youths?

S.C. J.: We are raising another battalion of Nagaland Armed Police. That will provide 1000 jobs for the Naga youths.

NENA: You had stated that you were also interested in sending the youths outside the State for higher studies...

S. C. J.: I am still very interested in sending the youths outside the State for higher studies. But the specifications are so high and strict that our youths are finding it difficult to cope with. I will be really happy if most of our students can overcome these hurdles and go outside for studies.

NENA: Why is the State Government not offering scholarships to the aspiring students?

S. C. J.: Offering scholarships to the aspiring students will not solve the problem. Our scholarships will not make them eligible for admission in the universities abroad. If the students can make themselves eligible for the universities, I assure you that for want of money they won’t be disappointed.

NENA: As you have mentioned Nagaland as resource-starved, what steps your Government intends to take to mobilise resources? If our information is correct, you had a meeting with the Planning Commission officials recently in this regard. What was the outcome of the meeting?

S. C. J.: There is nothing much to talk about the meeting. It was just a preliminary discussion prior to my meeting with the deputy chairman, which is slated after few days.Coming back to the topic of mobilising resources, we have some definite plans. We will disclose our plans in due course. At the present moment all I can say that our thrust is on decentralisation.

NENA: How can decentralisation help you in mobilising the resources?

S. C. J.: For example, my Government had to spend much on health and education. If we can save funds by decentralising these two sectors, we can use it to create resources in the State. But here, let me clear one thing. By saying that we want to decentralise the health and education sector, I do not mean that the State Government will not take any responsibility for providing education or health care to the people. We will continue to perform our duties. But if a system can be developed in which the entire populace of a village will be insured through the Village Development Board (VDB), and will be reimbursed by the insurance companies, the burden on the State Government will be shared. Similarly, we can think of other ideas about the education sector too.

NENA: According to many people corruption level in Nagaland is so high that it is actually ruining the developmental process and the State’s economy. What is your view?

S. C. J.: Whenever we have received any specific complaint about corruption, we have taken steps. But let me tell you very frankly that some people with vested interests are trying to hamper the developmental process by levelling such allegations. I do not claim that Nagaland is a corruption-free State. No chief minister in the country can claim so. But what I can assure you with is that we are always vigilant against corruption.

I am aware that raising the corruption issue, efforts are being made to stop financial assistance to Nagaland. But tell me, in Nagaland where is the money to loot. To pay the salaries of government servants we almost finish all our money. After paying the salaries there is hardly any money to loot.

Some people come and tell me that contractors are making money. But tell me which contractor will take up a job in which he cannot make any profit. Even the estimates are being made in a manner so that the contractor could make some profit. As long as the contractor gives us quality works, there is no need to cry foul.

We shall be watchful about the quality of the job, not about the profit the contractor makes.

NENA: Now coming to the ongoing peace process, how is it progressing? Are you satisfied with its progress so far?

S. C. J.: Since the initiation of the peace process, all along I have maintained that until and unless the ground rules formed by the ceasefire monitoring committee and agreed by both the sides are strictly adhered to, the peace process will not be able to achieve much. But the ground rules are being violated regularly. Fratricidal killings, kidnappings, extortions are going on.

NENA: But there is a ceasefire monitoring committee. Is it not looking into all these violations?

S. C. J.: Unfortunately, the body has become defunct now. What can you expect from a defunct body.

NENA: Have you brought this to the notice of the Central Government?

S. C. J.: The Central Government is aware of all these violations. It has its own intelligence agencies and gets all the reports. If it wants to initiate actions against the violations, it can do it of its own. What is the need of myself bringing it to the notice of the Central Government.

NENA: You mentioned about fratricidal killings. The Khaplang faction of the NSCN had recently announced ceasefire during the festive season. Isn’t it an encouraging sign?

S. C. J.: Certainly, it’s a welcome move. I hope that the faction will extend it after the festive season also. This is also encouraging from this point of view also that unless all the factions come for a dialogue with the Centre, real solution of the Naga problem will remain elusive.

NENA: As peace is prevailing in the State for more than a year now, can we conclude on this note that happy days are here again for the people of Nagaland.

S. C. J.: Frankly speaking, what is prevailing in the State is not the real peace. Real peace will come that day when all these fratricidal killings, extortions will come to an end. The ceasefire has stopped fight between the security forces and a particular underground faction.But the people are not yet freed. They are still having tough time due to violence and extortions. They are not sure about their lives because of violence and large-scale extortions have made their lives miserable. Certainly these are not happy days for the peace loving Nagas.

NENA: One last question. After the Mizoram Assembly elections, it seems that the Congress is losing its grip over the North-East. What is your opinion?

S. C. J.: No, it is not correct. Like in other parts of the country, in the North-East too the party is gaining grounds.

NENA: But your party is ruling in only State in the region....

S. C. J.: It does not indicate anything. You see, apart from Tripura and Assam, all the States are being ruled by the ex-Congressmen. Any day in these States you will find that the Congress has bounced back to power. In Assam also, our position has improved a lot.