‘Social Justice towards Economic Development’

Adv. Kezhokhoto Savi
President NVCO

In a society where the richer are becoming richer and the poorer are becoming poorer – this may not be a society having ‘Social Justice’ nor could provide ‘Economic Development’. I believe in Equality. Equality and fair distribution of wealth are the most important components to ensure justice to its citizens.

 

The Constitution of India guarantees protection of life and personal liberty to one and all, it provides adequate safeguards to fundamental rights against arbitrary decisions. The government has responsibilities over its citizen’s lives to ensure a better livelihood. In a state government like Nagaland having so much of corruption and mis-appropriation of public funds meant for infrastructural development, human development, economic development, etc, can the state government guarantee equitable social justice delivery to its citizens?

 

The role of the Government as the guarantee of social justice, we should first establish exactly what ‘Social Justice’ is …. Social Justice is the virtue which guides us in creating institutions which, when justly organized provide access to what is good for the person, both individually and in association with others. Social Justice imposes on each of us a personal responsibility to work with others to design and continually perfect over institutions as tools for personal and social development. The concept of social justice hinges on the idea of equality within society. Social Justice tries to combat societal issues including homelessness. Many social justice advocates work to alleviate poverty.

 

Will there be corruption and unfairness in a society having Social Justice? Social Justice as a concept firstly arose in the early 19th century during the Industrial Revolution and subsequent Civil Revolutions throughout Europe, which aimed to create more equalitarian societies and remedy capitalistic exploitation of human labour. By the mid-20th century, social justice had expanded from being primarily concerned with Economics to include other spheres of social life to include environment, race, gender and other causes and manifestations of inequality.

 

Social Justice entails Human Rights promotion. The human being is in a permanent quest for the satisfaction of his basic needs, the most fundamental physical needs such as food, health care and shelter, but also the moral needs of security and affection. It is the government role to guarantee social justice. And to guarantee Social Justice, a government cannot just put in places mechanism and consider its job done; it must also verify test that these social justice are working. This is done through full set of social justice indicators.

 

The moment we have Social Justice in our society, Economic Development is automatically on the rise. To guarantee Social Justice in our Naga society, our so called leaders in power especially legislators, bureaucrats and technocrats are to be honest. To bring social justice, it is as simple as eradicating corruption is eradicating poverty. In regard to Economic Development, we are to improve in all institutions such as health care sector, primary education, etc. The basic needs to be improve such as bad roads, poor water supply, deficient electricity services, etc.

 

However, looking at the recent report of the Comptroller and Audit General (CAG) which was placed before the 13 Nagaland Legislative Assembly including 25 cases of mis-appropriation involving government money amounting to Rs.230.33 crores up to March 31, 2017 pertaining to 14 departments, Planning & Coordination department paid Rs.20.23 crore for 13 unverifiable works, 6 doubtful execution of projects and nine short executed projects, the department had paid Rs.1.50 crore to an individual for obtaining sanction of a project from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the department officials could not locate the 13 projects/schemes on which Rs.7.11.crore had been paid, CAG detects non-existents yet completed projects amounting to Rs.6.68 crore, DUDA made payment amounting to Rs.15.94 crore without execution of works, short execution, etc under Border Area Development Programme(BADP), the Fisheries department had furnished utilisation certificates for an amount of Rs.12.79 crore even before the funds were released by the State Government, 5 DDOs of the School Education department fraudulently withdrew Rs.106.45 lakh by presenting false bills, the Project Director DRDA Kiphire paid Rs.2.03 crore for supply of 3,741 bundles of CGI sheets against fictitious and non-existent vehicles, the amount of Rs.56.12 lakh from the funds for scholarship schemes were diverted for private use by the Technical Education department, etc. etc. In the past similar CAG reports were placed before State legislative Assembly and the Accounts Committee consisted of legislators take up the matters but with no results rather it simply get closed which was very unfortunate and these trend would never bring justice to the people.

 

Besides CAG report we have high rate of corruption in a form of nepotism, favouritism, embezzlement, extortion, etc. but still then our so called leaders tries to delay in the establishment of Lokayukta in the state. The so called backdoor appointment is very common in the state departments despite of the standing order/court order in banning backdoor appointment. The huge practice of illegal taxation/extortion/collection of cash at the check-gates maintained by Nagaland Police finally affects the economy of the general public to a great extent.

 

The practice of deduction by way of commission in the name of Party fund, etc from developmental projects/public funds terribly affects infrastructural development in the state such as deplorable road condition, poor health care, pitiable condition of government buildings including schools, hospital, district offices, poor water supply, deficiency services of electricity, etc. The special message of the President of Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation(NVCO) Kezhokhoto Savi to the people of Nagaland – “Social Justice is the need of the hour in our society”.

 

Presentation of Adv. Kezhokhoto Savi President NVCO on a topic – “Social Justice towards Economic Development” during the Nagaland Law Student’ Federation (NLSF) 8th Biennial General Conference held at Hotel ACACIA, Dimapur from to November 20-21, 2018.

 

 

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