Speakers at the XXIII Morung Lecture on August 19 at Hotel Japfü, Kohima urged Nagaland’s citizens and public servants to confront entrenched corruption, nepotism, favouritism and misuse of public resources and to renew commitment to truth, integrity and accountability. Retired IAS officer Lithrongla G Chishi and Kahoto J Yepthomi of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS) delivered the lecture, themed “Truth and Integrity in Naga Public Life,” calling for honest self-reflection in homes, workplaces and public institutions.
Chishi said truth begins with accepting uncomfortable realities and being honest with oneself, recalling past instances of age tampering in official records as examples of how easily truth can be compromised. For her, integrity is shown “when nobody is watching.” She warned against an overemphasis on academic success and competition at the expense of character, arguing that families, more than schools, must teach honesty, compassion and moral values. “It’s time we change our mindset,” she told the audience, urging parents to lead by example.
She criticised nepotism and VIP culture, noting that young people without connections often lose access to jobs, education and opportunities while better-connected individuals receive preferential treatment. Chishi cautioned against blaming politicians alone, saying public servants who process and sign government decisions share responsibility. “If all of us in public life can make a difference and say no to wrong things… say no to corruption, say no to nepotism, we will be able to change,” she said. She also flagged unnecessary government expenditure and a worrying decline in compassion, calling for a societal rebuild founded on moral values and ethics.
Yepthomi described the state of public life in Nagaland as “deeply worrying,” saying corruption has become normalised and rarely questioned. He highlighted a tension between Nagaland’s Christian identity and public conduct, stating: “The problem today is between what we preach and what we practise.” He urged churches and civic leaders to treat corruption as a moral issue, and warned that tribal and personal loyalties often override the common good.
Pointing to the state’s fiscal challenges and reliance on central funding, Yepthomi noted that recent changes in central assistance, including the withdrawal of the Revenue Deficit Grant, have increased pressure on Nagaland’s finances and made responsible use of public money imperative. He stressed voters’ responsibility in electing leaders and warned against choosing candidates for their spending power rather than public vision: “Who are our leaders? It is we who are electing them.”
Yepthomi criticised weak accountability mechanisms, questioning the effectiveness of suspensions that leave officials drawing subsistence allowances, and raised concern about projects that exist only on paper. He recommended greater use of the Right to Information (RTI) while warning against its misuse, and urged citizens to speak up: “We should start speaking up.” He also found reason for optimism in younger officers who appear more willing to work honestly and in departments that are responding to audit findings.
Both speakers stressed that lasting change requires more than government action: it must begin with each citizen. “Change is not going to start from anywhere else. Change is going to start from you and me,” Yepthomi said. The lecture is an initiative of The Morung Express, and the series was organised in partnership with the Research and Development Cell, Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/nagas-must-confront-normalised-corruption
Category: Nagaland
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-08-20 00:04:00
