Kohima, September 25 (DIPR): As part of the Kohima Village Gazetted Officers’ Association (KVGOA) Silver Jubilee celebration, a seminar with the main theme ‘U Kijü kerüguo mu U mezhü’ was held at Kohima Village Council Hall, Kohima Village on September 24.
The resource persons were NAPO President, Vilieo Rutsa; Addl. Sr. Govt. Advocate, Vihelieü Suokhrie; and retired Principal Secretary, Thepfulhouvi Solo (IFS).
Vilieo Rutsa enlightened the gathering on the genesis of the village formation and its establishment by the forefathers. He also highlighted the custom of land ownership and stressed on the importance of land protection for the future generations. He further spoke on the system of traditional land dispute settlement within the village and neigbouring villages. Traditionally, women were not deprived to inherit, however, certain rules were observed in inherited properties, he said.
Vihelieü Suokhrie dwelled on sale of land, land mortgage, and Nagaland Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act 1965. On sale of land, she emphasized on the ownership of property bought by the buyer; on land mortgage, she highlighted the rights and limitation of mortgagee and mortgagor; and on the Nagaland Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act 1965, she explained on the issue of show cause notice to land owners as to why their land should not be acquired followed by other legal procedures.
Thepfulhouvi Solo stressed on Article 371 of the Indian Constitution. He pointed out that Nagas have rights on the usage of their land and resources. He observed the need to bring out some guidelines in regard to sale of land to outsiders by the Village Council so as to protect the land for future generations. “Tribal land is the tribal’s biggest identity so it is necessary to protect it for future generations,” he stated. He maintained it is everyone’s duty to respect the government; however, one should not hesitate to voice out their rights when particular policy is against “our” traditional rights.
President KVGOA, Er. Keviletuo Yiese in his remark stated that there is a need to protect our land for our future generations as the population has been increasing year after year. Keeping this in mind, the seminar was organized to ponder and discuss on how to protect our land for our future generations, he added.
Chairman of Kohima Village Council, Medoselhou Keretsü also addressed the function.
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