Systemic failure, tribalism…? Nagaland’s complex relationship with corruption

Analysing causes and effects

Mongsentong Longkumer
Dimapur | May 9

Corruption, a common practice throughout human history, is widely believed to be endemic within the Naga society. By extension, political corruption is assumed to be the norm within the governance structure of every bureaucratic space and department in Nagaland, thus acting as a deterrent towards the wholesome economic and social development of the State.

Solutions and answers to corruption are complex and elusive; however, remedial measures can be sought to comprehend the situation. To this end, The Morung Express talked with a host of Naga citizens to take their personal insights on corruption.

Systemic failure and poverty?
The issue around corruption is complex and difficult to solve as it is so deeply rooted within the society, shared Kedo Peseyie, Pastor of City Church, Kohima.

He, however, noted that while corruption is a moral issue as well as spiritual problem, more than that it is of a systemic failure of the government – in a sense, its failure to uphold the system which can check corruption.

For Dr Imlirenla Walling, former President of the Watsü Mungdang, corruption initially crept into Naga society through the State elections and the protracted Naga political issue where “money became a means to win over support.”

Now, the State has been corrupted to such an extent that “unless a miracle happens, it is beyond repair,” she noted.

While Dr Salikyu Sangtam, Assistant Professor at North East Christian University (NECU), sharing his insight on the state of affairs observed that, “Corruption exaggerates tribal identity while poverty leads to corruption.”

Misdirected spiritualism
Pastor Kedo also explained the issue of bribery from the Biblical lens.

“The Bible clearly says, do not give a bribe or do not take a bribe, why is that? Because when I give or accept a bribe, it subverts the cause of the innocent,” he elaborated.

‘Corruption, nepotism and backdoor appointments deprive the poor,’ he further stressed, adding: “And it deprives the deserving people as it disturbs the process of justice.”

Accordingly, he opined that Nagas have not understood the gospel well and asserted: “If you really understood the gospel then you would know that it is a story. It is a story about sacrifice, selfless love; it is the story about a good person suffering for the truth and ultimately dying for the truth.”

‘We have not allowed the gospel to transform our hearts, lifestyles, values and ethics,’ he added.

To top his argument, Pastor Kedo declared the God of the Bible is “absolutely clean, righteous, and who hates bribery, corruption and injustice. And He hates those who oppress the poor.”

“Perhaps that has been missing,” he offered.

As for Dr Imlirenla, she opined that while everyone – from the highest section of the society to the lowest – proclaims ‘Nagaland for Christ,’ actions are scarce.

“Actions are stronger than words, and at this point, the actions are very scarce,” she argued.

Both public and the leaders are both “indirectly enabling each other to turn the wheel of this perpetual cycle of corruption,” making it almost impossible to break away from this chain,” she added.

Sheltering the corrupt through tribalism
The silence of the public, Dr Salikyu noted, was also a sign of the fact that everyone is hand-glove involved in corruption.

“Everyone in Nagaland is in survival mode so we are blind to the corruption that surrounds us.”

He also pointed out that tribalism is one of the biggest factors leading to corruption.

“If you expect your ministers or politicians to help you, then how can you be against corruption itself?,” he posed rhetorically, further stating that ‘if no individual would be willing to go against his/her tribe when they are in the wrong, then corruption will continue to exist within the system.’

He further argued that causes leading to favouritism, nepotism, patronage, embezzlement would be found within the structure of the Naga society.

De-motivator for youth
Consequently, Dr Imlirenla observed that “corruption is a big de-motivator for the youths.”

Regardless, she expressed her optimism that youths today have come to realise that they cannot depend on the government for employment.

Instead of depending on the government to provide job opportunities, many are delving into private start-ups, skills oriented sectors, freelancing, etc as means of self sustenance and self reliance, thus detaching themselves from the vicious cycle of corruption within the job distribution system, she added.

For an educator, Dr Salikyu regretted the ‘misallocation of talents’ of youths as they are culturally or societally pressured to seek only government jobs.

This exacerbates the practice of corruption by the political leaders through backdoor appointments and unscrupulous appointments, he contended.

He further considered the existence of corruption as a failure of the education system where “youths are not taught how to think for themselves.”

Locating exit points
“Your voting right is your birth right. The most important thing is that the Church can preach that message,” Pastor Kedo viewed while delving into electoral politics and its interrelatedness with corruption.

“Some people don’t even know that it is a sin against God and the people, so a change in their consciousness is needed,” he said, expressing hope that people would use their votes responsibly on the notion of “Vote because you love God, vote because you love the people.”

Given the ground reality, Pastor Kedo stated that society is turning a blind eye towards good and honest officers.
“Even if we hear it, we don’t spread it. So what we’re doing is, we’re honouring the corrupt people and not people of integrity,” he noted.

To correct this, he called for “consciously telling stories of honesty.”

Pastor Kedo also located corruption within the realm of churches’ functioning, with the perpetual ‘need of money’ as a prime contributor.

“Yes, I admit that the church needs to change its way of functioning,” he said, batting for lessening of projects and programmes by churches so that the huge dependency on politicians and bureaucrats for funds, are limited.

“It would be difficult but not impossible as well,” he added.

While Dr Imlirenla remained pessimistic for now, “Unless the new wave of leaders and bureaucrats use their power as medium for change, I stand by my statement that it is beyond repair.”

Brushing upon solutions, she felt that departments should be established to check corruption at every level.

Apart from this, she emphasised on instilling and encouraging ethics should be instilled from a very young age as well as collective effort to root out corruption.

To check corruption, Dr Salikyu advocated for mobilisation of the society. “Solution cannot be brought about by one or two individuals. The whole society needs to think about it and take action. It requires the mobilisation of the society.”

“It has to do with the habits, traditions and customs of our Naga culture, whether we like it or not. So the solution itself will come when we examine our own society,” he added.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/systemic-failure-tribalism-nagalands-complex-relationship-with-corruption