Churches, Traditional Values and the RTI: Insights on Accountability in Naga Society

Morung Express News 
Mokokchung | November 10

While tools like the RTI (Right to Information) Act are to be used for the good of the citizens, Lanu Longkumer, Professor, Department of Geography, Nagaland University, and Human Rights & Environmental activist underscored that before usage, every citizen must be sensitised on its contents, meaning and purpose. He was responding to a query posed by a University student on whether tools like RTI can help the Naga society especially students and civil society organisations in providing transparency and accountability. 

The Q&A session was held as part of the Morung Lecture XX on “Transparency in Nagaland- A Tool for Accountability in Governance” held at Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung on November 8.

Professor Lanu Longkumer asserted that RTI is a very important tool, but expressed skepticism on its usage while citing instances of RTI activists, who, instead of using it for the good of the society are rather becoming problematic.

“It is so unfortunate that before the society starts to use these tools for the good of the society, they are using it for their own benefit,” he remarked. In this connection, he reiterated the importance of educating the masses before using tools like RTI. 

He was further asked if he has seen any improvement in transparency or governance in the State to which, he responded by saying that, there has been a lot of development but when it comes to transparency, things are not as we desire.” For developments which have picked up, he maintained that it is also because the media has highlighted it and only under compelling situation, the Government got into action and not because of mass realisation. 

In this context, he lamented that, “we still have a long way to go.”

“We have to encourage each other, encourage students, and students’ civil organisations. We need to share information and encourage each other and grow together,” he emphasised while also adding that, “we must use the tools (for transparency) very positively and effectively.”

Traditional structures but lacking cultural values
While there are traditional structures in the Naga society, there is lack of cultural values such as honesty, being truthful and upright. This was a remark made by the moderator, Arien Jamir while seeking comments from Dr Chingmak Chang, Secretary of Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS) Tuensang. 

In response to this, Dr Chingmak stated that, “in the Naga society, Nagas are very honest” while citing his own personal experience of working with the rural communities. He illustrated his point by saying, “when I am very honest, they are also very honest. We involve them in the planning and designing and our projects are successful because they are part of the ownership.”

However, he also maintained that in the Naga context, because of the way things are designed in general, “when you have no space, it tends to be very secluded.” While Nagas tend to be upfront and upright, he said that “problems come when it comes to decision making” with specific reference to inclusion of women as an example.

Church contribution towards transparency
On the contribution of the church towards transparency, Dr Chingmak opined that, “the way we are, we are driven by patriarchy and patriarchy is very imperialistic.” This, he stated is not only about those at the top but affects everyone.”

Citing the church, which is usually the best building in any village or town, he said, “the church also has problems but because there is certain amount of transparency, people still give to church because they know their money is going to safe hands.”

In the meantime, he pointed out that there is no other platform like the church to address the issue of corruption with the whole village turning up to listen to a Sunday sermon. He advocated that this could be the best platform for pastors to say for instance that “if you are doing proxy, the church will not accept your tithe”. “We have to say black is black and white is white and address the elephant in the room”, he asserted. 

“If you are honest, they are willing to work with you”, he went on to say while also exuding optimism that, “it is not hard to change Nagaland.” 

In this connection, he also said that the best sign that democracy is not working is corruption and underlined the need for people at all levels to understand what democracy is. 

Professor Lanu Longkumer emphasised that everyone should be ready and willing to do the right thing no matter how uncomfortable it is. On the role of the church, he also asserted that the “Church should start doing the right thing within their own community because it has the moral authority.”

Further citing instances, he expressed that, “many a times, we have been suppressed by the community or collective authority”.

However, stating that one should not be discouraged by one instance, he underlined that, “change should come from the grassroots” and that change should also come from small things.

“Maybe at the grassroots or at the top, but when we see that something needs to change, whether big or small, let us not ignore the small things,” he emphasized.