TDDC says it’s a public cry for filling developmental gaps
MON, JULY 26 (MExN): Barely a day after the call for upgrading Mon’s Aboi sub-division to district status was renewed, an old demand to turn Tobu into a district was also reignited.
The Tobu District Demand Committee (TDDC) issued a press release today reaffirming its stand stating, “Our demand is for just and effective governance.”
The TDDC justified its demand based on a state government “notification” dating to 2007. It reminded that in 2007, Tobu’s district demand was included in a Home Department notification (GAB-1) listing “Demands for creation/up gradation and changes in Administrative Head Quarters.”
As early as 1987, it said that the state government had posted an official in the rank of Deputy Commissioner to helm the administrative affairs of Tobu ADC sub-division. In 2006, it added that a proposal to upgrade Tobu to a full-fledged district was submitted to the government by civil society organizations of Tobu sub-division.
It further recalled that Tobu as an administrative sub-division dates back to 1952 with the posting of an APO at Pessao, to be later relocated to Tobu in 1954. While stating that Tobu was given the status of an ADC sub-division in July 1990, it added that it is the only sub-division in Mon district with a Development and Planning Board.
Tobu’s remote location from Mon district headquarters was cited as the basis for the demand. At more than 120km from Mon headquarters, the TDDC said that villages in Tobu are located as far away as 190km from the district headquarters.
It said that the demand is a public cry for justice to fill the infrastructural gaps, to improve service delivery and economic uplift of the people of Tobu and “which will eventually help in achieving the developmental goal of the state.”
“With all the relevant documents and profile of Tobu District demand endorsed with signature of Village Councils and other stakeholders of Tobu and Moka being submitted to the State Government time and again, we are optimistic that the decades old aspiration and prayer of Tobu and Moka will soon be achieved,” it stated.
While reaffirming its demand, the TDDC requested its Aboi counterpart not to include Tobu and Moka in Aboi’s district aspiration as endorsed in a series of public rallies at Angjangyang, Mopong and Tobu since the year 2006.
It further sought the support of the nine legislators of Mon district, Konyak Union (Mon), Konyak Students’ Union, KNSK Mon, Mon District GB’s Association, KVCU Mon, KBBB Mon and “ neighbouring brothers” in the quest for district status.
