Our Correspondent
Phek | April 12
The Phek District Planning & Development Board (DPDB), on April 12, recommended the upgradation of Meluri Sub Division to a full- fledged district. Pochury Hoho (PH) brought the agenda to the meeting in the presence of all the five legislators from Phek district.
After hearing from PH President, Chonpa Jurry and Z Nyusietho Nyuthe (an elected representative from 20 Meluri AC and advisor New & Renewable Energy & Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority), Phek Deputy Commissioner and Vice Chairman DPDB, Kumar Ramnikant informed that since no objection is received at the meeting, the Phek DPDB would communicate its recommendation to the concerned department for further course of action.
A concept note, earlier representations, letter of support from Chakhesang Public Organization, proposed map of Meluri district, population of Meluri Sub Division as per Census 2011 and relevant documents were also made available at the meeting .
Proposal for upgradation of SDO (C) Chizami, Chetheba EAC
Nagaland’s Power & Parliamentary Affairs Minister, KG Kenye (an elected representative from 17th Chizami A/C and Chairman of Phek DPDB) also moved the proposal at the meeting for upgradation of SDO (C) Chizami to ADC HQ.
Also, Nagaland’s CAWD and Taxes Advisor, Kudecho Khamo (an elected representative from 18th Chozuba A/C) moved for upgradation of Chetheba EAC to that of SDO (C).
Later, the House agreed in principle to recommend both the proposal and decided to ask the concerned administrative officers to submit the necessary documents in support of the matter in the next DPDB meeting.
Background
Earlier, the PH alongwith other frontal organizations had submitted series of memorandums to the Chief Minister of Nagaland twice in 2021 and 2022 for upgradation of Meluri Sub Division to a full-fledged district.
“It is the utmost desire and aspiration of the Pochury people as a tribe to have a full-fledged district headquarters for administrative convenience and socio-economic upliftment of the sub division," stated a joint memorandum addressed to CM on February 15, 2022 by PH, Pochury Mothers’ Association, Pochury Gazetted Officers’ Forum, Pochury GBs Forum, Pochury Sports’ Association, Pochury Institute of Literature, Pochury Youth Organization and Pochury Students’ Union.
In another memorandum in 2021 submitted to CM and signed by its President, Chonpa Jurry and General Secretary, Sierhosie Kajiry, the PH stated that the Meluri Sub-Division is approximately 1,011 sq.kms covering 30 recognized villages with 4(four) Administrative Headquarters viz Meluri HQ, Phokhungri EAC HQ, Phor EAC HQ and Lephori EAC HQ.
In the beginning, for Administrative convenience, Meluri Hq was established as 'Chairman Bench Court' in 1958 and upgraded to Circle Officer in the year 1959. Subsequently, in 1962 it was upgraded to Assistant Commissioner-H, as Extra Assistant Commissioner in 1969, Sub-Divisional Office (SDO) in 1981 and thereafter to a fully fledged Sub-Division (ADC) in 2008. The Sub-Division is strategically located bordering (international boundary) Myanmar in the east and at the confluence of inter-state border criss-crossing Manipur State in the south, Kiphire District in the North and Zunheboto and Phek HQ in the West.
It stated that Pochury area is one of those international borders integral to India's Act East Policy providing one of the most fastest and accessible routes to major Naga Townships in Myanmar and beyond.
The enormous potential of an Integrated Check Post at Avakhung, once operationalized, is believed to be a vital economic corridor and transform the economy of the state.
“For any international border trade and commerce to fructify and flourish, we need full-time dedicated District level officers in key departments. Due recognition may be accorded to the entirely different culture and customs practiced by the people of the Sub-Division. Further, re-organization of Administrative Headquarters is recognized on linguistic lines. As most tribes in Nagaland have their own District, it would be fair for the Pochury people to have a separate District,” the Memorandum stated.
