MGNREGS is a childish provision

Raman Shimreithing *

Before the provision such scheme like MGNREGS in rural areas in the State of Manipur by the Central Government of India, the outskirt regions especially the Naga villages lived in peace and harmony preserving the rich cultural heritage left by our forefathers. No doubt such welfare scheme is a privileged-concept for the upliftment of the backward classes.

India sponsored such scheme is indeed targeted in order to bring social equality in the State, but most of the Nagas observe such implementation of MGNREGS scheme not applicable for a time being; while ignoring the Naga issue and providing such scheme is a fabricated policy. Under such provision, India is attempting to play a role of divide and rule within the Naga inhabited areas.

We the Nagas must not welcome such unruly welfare scheme. In other words, India is playing such role by politicizing and encouraging a division – bell within Naga society and creating a party system – a rivalry rat race between two groups of society for the ownership of government within a given village i.e. one party led by headman and the other by chairman. Automatically leading two antagonistic confrontation groups within a given village fight mainly for no other reason than the ownership of MGNREGS.

The Central Government knew this and did it on purpose not for the love but to watch the game of crashes and splitting up of Naga society into various antagonistic groups within for the Indian Government to observe in triumphant mood the confrontation and breaking-up of the Naga villages.

The Indian Government introduced this scheme particularly to distort the Naga issue and play a game of divide and rule policy within the Naga society. Let us see which party races for holding the office within a given village after removing any such free beneficial scheme provided by the Indian Government.

Though the title MGNREGS stands for the sake of a social upliftment, we the Nagas must not forget that such social scheme is a disastrous one to deceive the Naga people and to upsurge its unique historical facts and values of Naga society as a whole.

The Indian Government sponsored this social scheme in the guise for the upliftment of the poor, but for the Nagas it plays a different tune under such circumstances and it becomes an evil and destructive machine to bring an enmity within peaceful co-existence among the Naga villages of the State.

It is clear now that India wants to see Nagas inbreeding hatred one after another and the breaking-up of Naga society so as to erase the on-going Indo-Naga peace process.

It's a trap alluring to mislead the Naga people from socially well-organised to small various antagonistic groups. So much so that the Indian Government could view in gladness the conflicting scenes among ourselves. It is high time for the Nagas to suspend MGNREGS in the Naga-inhabited areas in order to seal an end the conflicting drama among ourselves.

India wanted to see disunity among the Nagas so as to keep pending in balance political solution of the Nagas. So far so good, we the Nagas have now come to doubt that the prevailing Indian Government is playing a policy of disintegration within the Naga society by introducing such scheme like MGNREGS.

Taking advantage of the kind-heartedness of the Nagas, the present ruling Indian Government is playing a foxy role of divide and rule policy within the Naga society. It is high time for each and every Naga to understand the wickedness of Indian policy.

It is high time for each and every Naga to wake up and come forward unitedly and stands for its historical political rights. There have been mutually agreed ceasefire and peace-talk between the Government of India and NSCN(IM) but clear violation of the rules of the same have galored in the eyes of the world by arresting and imprisoning of top Naga leaders like Anthony, AbsoIom which may automatically result to disastrous end.

Is it appropriate and democratic on the part of Indian Government to captivate and imprison those great Naga leaders like Anthony, Absolom in the midst of ceasefire agreement and on-going peace dialogue between India and Nagas? Who is responsible for such clear violation and lawlessness? Nobody but India is to be blamed for violating such international laws.

If the ruling Indian Government wants to show its democratic policy, we the Nagas want to see releasing all those imprisoned Naga leaders without any further delay. Only then the Nagas swill trust India is playing acceptable democratic role. Else there is no need indeed for the Nagas to tolerate and remain silent any longer.

Thus, talking of her foreign policy, India needs a fundamental change in the policy-making regarding the Naga's political issue if she wants a free hand in propagating peace and harmony in the international affairs.

What we ought to understand is that India is a playing diplomatic game with such provision scheme like MGNREGS just for namesake, what India really wanted to observe is a conflict two groups of society in a given village i.e. one group of society headed by village headman and the other group by chairman.

In fact, this is a not welfare scheme provided by the Indian Government in rural areas not for the love but to watch the conflict and hatred one another within a given society. Such provision may be considered as conspiracy war to tarnish the on-going Indo-Naga ties.