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.
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