February 11, 2004 was and still is the Red Letter Day for the people of Peren district when the present DAN government under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of the district. Multitudes of people thronged the District Headquarters on this day to commemorate and as well express solidarity and gratefulness. Remorsefully three years down the line, when the other districts are abuzz with developmental activities, Peren district was and is still caught in a quagmire over the vexed district headquarters issue that was brought about by internecine rivalries and indecisiveness of the government. We cannot downplay the role of the various public leaders. NGOs, Hohos that added their bit in making this issue a complicated one. The district was pegged back for this three years long, as if to justify that laying of one foundation stone was not enough to usher in development.
Our State has indeed witnessed a spurt of activities and a wind of change with Neiphiu Rio at the helm of affairs. In contrast however, a person of his caliber could not evince the sentiments of the people of the district but rather swayed to the political fervour and evil designs of a few self vested individual. The sentiments and welfare of the people should have been taken into account while formulating plans for a model district headquarters. As per customary practices, such acts are taboo and do not bode well. Don’t prove us right that the present DAN government is on a ribbon cutting spree. It would be utter mockery of his integrity and conscience as an individual and a demoralizing trend to the office that he holds.
Hence, it is disheartening to note that the present CM who laid the foundation stone of the District headquarters on February 11, 2004 have snatched his plans and will be laying another foundation stone at New Peren/Kejanglwa as if he mean that laying one stone was not enough. The up gradation of Peren District Headquarters would rather be a bane and not a boon for the people of the district. Besides, the government would be spending hundred of crores of rupees; if at all the district headquarters is to come up. Ironically, all government employees of the district are made liable again as was for the inauguration on February 11, 2004. Don’t tell us that the public will have to bear expenses for the construction of the district headquarters. The model district headquarter is a farce and too big a talk for reality to comprehend. Let’s at best, not build castles in the air and not let history repeat itself when Muhammed Bin Tughlag tried to shift his capital from Delhi to Deogir. Remember, the consequences can be disastrous.
It is thus an earnest appeal to your honorable office and as a well wisher of Peren district to take stock of the situation and let not any evil designs of some few vested interested persons destroy our future and keep our people in a deadlock situation. You are the best judge of the situation and you know best what the people of the district needs.
An innocent mind queries when the red letter day Peren district February 11, 2004 or May 15, 2007? The ball is in your court Chief Minister Sir. For us it will always be February 11, 2004.
Long live Peren district.
Tiaktalakpe (Ndunglwa), Teicanglung (Benreu)
Chuipungbe (Jalukie town), Ziucibe (Ngwalwa)
Haimuibwale (Peren town)
