Kohima, November 6 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland Legislatures’ Union (ENLU), in a press release, has advised and appealed the tribal units under ENPO “not to oppose the SPA granted by the centre as it will be our own loss; instead we can project more developmental needs in the next 5 year plan”.
The note, from Chairman of ENLU, Nyeiwang Konyak, has repeatedly stressed that their appeal is not against the ENPO or the demand for a separate state.
“We are taken aback by the news item which appeared in the local dailies (ENPO tribal units oppose SPA from Centre’ Nagaland Post, Oct. 28/2012) where it has been stated that the tribal units under the ENPO have opposed the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) granted by the centre and also warned that ‘any tribe, organization, elected members, contractors, individuals involved…would be doing so at their own risks’.”
In this regard, the ENLU has clarified that the SPA “is in no way a substitute to the demand for a separate statehood nor is it a compromise”. Rather, said the Union, the SPA “is just a temporary relief package that the central government has granted to the people of our region”. Additionally, it has said that the SPA was discussed and agreed upon during meetings in Mon and Dimapur between the ENPO, ENLU, various tribal units and public leaders of Eastern Nagaland.
“The particular work that was mentioned under the SPA are already put in the works programme and passed in the State Assembly. This is a positive step towards the development of Eastern Nagaland and will definitely ease some of the immediate communication problems of the region,” noted the press release.
“If we reject the SPA at this juncture, the funds will be surrendered to the centre and it will be a great loss to our people,” stated ENLU.
