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Corruption prime reason behind Nagaland's poor performance in NITI AAYOG’s SDG index

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National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) AAYOG’s North Eastern Region District Sustainable Development Goal Index (NERDSDGI) or SDG Index has declared Nagaland as one of the “worst-performing” states in the country with five districts listed in the bottom-10.

By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Special Correspondent

Nagaland has been ranked as one of the worst performing state in the NER SDG Index 2021-22 published by NITI AAYOG recently which had voiced against Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio and his governmentfor not even providing basic facilities to the common people and cheating the Naga people and also the central government for many years.

Following the state’s poor performance, three political parties in the state-the Congress, the Rising People’s Party (RPP) and the National People’s Party (NPP) have been raining severe criticisms upon the Rio-led PDA government bringing his government’s credibility under scanner.

While some attributes states’ poor performance to corruption, some accuses Rio of being a business man who works for his gains and not for welfare of the people.

Talking to this correspondent, RPP president, Joel Naga, said that Nagaland being tagged as one of the worst performing states is very “shameful” and languishing in the bottom was due to the failed governance of Rio and corruption.

Stating that there are many reasons of corruption and the biggest being “election”, Joel reminded that in 2004, Rio’s government had introduced the “Vision 2020” wherein it was mentioned that within 15 years time, poverty would be eradicated, bring good governance, good infrastructures, and quality education but lamented that till date he did nothing for the state and welfare of the people.

Joel also said that in 2016 basing on the same parameters, Rio has introduced the “Vision 2030” but the government is still failing thoroughly in its vision.

As the SDG index is used as a reference point for any investment or identification of projects in future, Joel said that given the performance of the state, the government of India will hesitate on funding projects in future.

On “opposition-less” government, Joel said it brings shame to parliamentary democracy as when there is opposition, there will be “check and balance” but when there is no opposition, all come together to either do good for the welfare of the people or misuse the funds, for which the impact will be very bad. He also said when looked at the NITI AAYOG index, poverty, zero hunger, good infrastructure, quality education and health are mentioned but now since the affairs of the state is running by “opposition-less” government, the tag will go down even lower not only in the northeast but there will be a day when Nagaland will be the worst performing state in the entire country.

On being asked about Nagaland’s poor show in the SDG’s index, many blaming it on the state’s history of insurgency which has a sizeable amount of “control” over the governance which has ultimately led to the
exhilaration of corruption and lack of development in the state, the RPP leader, who is also the founding member of Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT), an NGO dedicated to fighting corruption at the highest levels, added that it is convenient to say that but when looked at Manipur, worst hit by insurgency, they are doing very well and much ahead in developmental activities compared to Nagaland which is under ceasefire with the government of India since 1997.

Also sharing his views on how corrupted Nagaland government is and how it is misleading the people, National People’s Party (NPP), Nagaland, Dr. Adrew Ahoto, told this correspondent that Nagaland chief minister, Rio, fooling the people has “lost” to NITI AYOG Index wherein it shows Nagaland as the “worst performing” state.


Stating that Nagaland government is also “fooling” the central government for many years, Ahoto said that now the time has come for the people to know the truth.  “It is almost 18 years ever since Rio took over the reign as the chief minister of Nagaland but till date he did not do anything to uplift the state and the people, then, why is he holding the post?”

Ahoto questioned also while adding that Rio has been cheating the entire public and also the central government for a very longtime. He also said that passing unnecessary blame to “insurgency” for “control” over the governance thereby hampering developmental activities in the state was not fare as according to him if CBI comes in, everything would be thorough, and transparent investigation would lead to unearthing many facts.

Meanwhile, former finance minister of Nagaland, and Congress president, K. Therie, in a recent interview with a local news channel has spoke out on issues and also on Nephiu Rio’s failure as chief minister of Nagaland.
Terming Rio as a “businessman”, Therie said it was the mistake of the public for making him a “leader” for almost 20 years.

He disclosed that even though Rio is sitting on the chief minister’s chair, he is “afraid” of the BJP and thinking about the welfare of the people.
Sharing that starting from chief minister himself to the level of peon are all corrupted, Therie pointed out that if this trends continues, there won’t be any development forget about eradicating poverty from the state even in 2030 which is one of his “vision”.


Describing road and power (energy) are the two elements that lifts the economy of the people likewise growth of economy depends on road and energy, Therie said these are the two sectors the state cannot be compared with any other states. Also mentioning that National Highway Authority has taken up some 2 lanes and 4 lanes projects which could be seen, but for the rest of the roads whatever the state receive from the finance commission as
“awards” which are supposed to be used for the maintenance of roads are misused, he added.


He also disclosed that every year, Nagaland receives “awards (funds)” from the finance commission for sustenance of roads in the state. It may be mentioned that in its recently published report, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) AAYOG’s North Eastern Region District Sustainable Development Goal Index (NERDSDGI) or SDG Index has declared Nagaland as one of the “worst-performing” states in the country with five districts listed in the bottom-10.


The five districts of Nagaland in bottom-10 included Longleng (59.07), Mon (55.93), Tuensang (55.87), Zunheboto (54.53) and Kiphire (53.00). The report has also mentioned Nagaland performing poorly in six goals—No poverty, good health and well-being, industry, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, innovation and infrastructure while it also indicated a mixed performance by the state in quality education, reducing inequalities, climate action and peace, justice and strong institutions which has led the experts mounting for an immediate concern.

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