The first two decades of India’s independence could not create any impact on Naga economy, and the last 40 years of statehood could hardly improve the economy status of the Naga people through business, except some improvement in the level of education, health and infrastructure development such as—roads, buildings, electricity, etc, said Deo Nukhu, Director of State Institute of Rural development(SIRD) while delivering a key note address at a seminar on “Development Business Skills for First generations Entrepreneurs” here at Red cross Confrence Hall on Saturday.

The Director said the overall living conditions of common people had not changed much up to the expectation, adding the Nagas were still depending on the Government of India for “financial requirements” besides income generation of the rural people could not move forward towards self-sufficiency. Nukhu said due to the prevailing political situation in the State, most of the Nagas were reluctant to invest in their business ventures resulting failure to generate any employment opportunities in the private sector of the economy.

“There are many local people who are having enterprising potentials for undertaking various profitable ventures, but either due to financial problems or due to fear of investment loss because of extortions and intimidation, most of such business prospects are being held up”, the Dircetor stressed. He also explained how things became worst in Nagaland after the flow of money in the State from the Centre. Elaborating further, he said since there was hardly any possibility of capturing market outside the State by the Nagas to bring money into their markets, the only way to bring money to Nagaland was mainly in the form of “Central Assistance” from the Government of India through various departments.

He also said the circulation of money in Nagaland was the poorest and further called upon the Naga people to learn to invest their money so that there would be no lack of money circulation. “Even if the rich cannot give money directly to the poor, they can help in the form of bank loans provided the stock of money is deposited by the people to the banks for circulation”, he added.

He stressed the need for remedy of economic depression and revival of economy and social disorder. He said extortions in the state must be checked and various forms of forced collections in the name of NGOs, societies, etc must be stopped. “Many Nagas have become beggars in various forms including some church leaders” Nukhu said. “This is very sad state of affairs”.

He further called upon the Naga people to work hard for peace, adding Nagas must learn to love other as fellow citizens so that there could be progress and prosperity on future.

Presenting his paper on “Entrepreneurship-A promising career”, Neichute Doulo, fellow, Ashoka Innovators for the Public said human wealth and their daily wants spoke so much of what entrepreneurs created. He pointed out the career of entrepreneurship was one filled with “challenges and promises”.

The resource person also said the idea of entrepreneur was a new concept altogether to Nagas and had little appeal when given the choice between picking up white collar jobs and business. “To most Nagas, the monetized exchange economy is a cultural shock. There is no corporate world in Nagaland. Nagas have only seen the War economy. Sadly, to many so-called educated youth, more qualifications mean bigger posts in the Government offices. The Government seems to be reduced to monthly salary disbursing agency only”, he further added.

“We have become a people who do not pay tax but cry for social benefits and who measure the efficiency of a government by its ability to pay monthly salaries with grants from Delhi”, Doulo said.

He also said no time could be better than to take up entrepreneurs as a career for the ones who wanted to be rich, who wanted to take control of their lives, help democracy work and solve problems of scarcity and wants.

Theja Therie was the moderator during the seminar and large number of delegates and entrepreneurs attended the seminar which was jointly organized by Entrepreneurs Associations(EA) and State Institute of Rural development(SIRD), Government of Nagaland.