ENPO accepts GoI’s proposal of ‘Frontier Naga Territory’

Accepts proposal ‘without insisting on dividing Nagaland state’ 

Seeks support from all Nagas as it ‘embark on this new arrangement’

DIMAPUR, JUNE 27 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organization (ENPO) on Tuesday announced that it has accepted the proposal of the Government of India for formation of a Frontier Naga Territory (FNT) with legislative, executive, administration, and financial autonomy, where the performance of the proposed set-up shall be reviewed after a period of 10 years to assess its efficacy to fulfill the aspirations of the people of the Eastern Nagaland region. 

“Considering the sentiments of our Naga brothers and sisters towards unity and togetherness,” the ENPO said, it accepted the proposal “without insisting on dividing the Nagaland State.”

Towards this, the 7 tribes of Eastern Nagaland namely Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Tikhir, and Yimkhiung, ENPO, on Tuesday made an appeal to the ‘state government and Naga brothers and sisters’ seeking support towards fulfilling the demand of the people of Eastern Nagaland. 

The ENPO stated that as an apex body representing seven tribal communities of the six districts of the Eastern Nagaland region; it had been pursuing the demand for a separate State for the last more than a decade based on various reasons including historical backgrounds and socio-economic backwardness, etc. 

To begin with, it submitted a memorandum to the Government of India on 25th November 2010 demanding a separate Statehood, and formal talks were initiated in the year 2015. Despite several rounds of talks, with the participation of both the GoI through the MHA and the State Government of Nagaland, the issue remained unresolved. The ENPO recently met the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah on 6th December 2022. 

Following this, a series of meetings were held with the officers of the MHA involving the State Government, thereby, GoI offering ENPO, the formation of Frontier Naga Territory (FNT) with legislative, executive, administration, and financial autonomy, where the performance of the proposed set-up shall be reviewed after a period of 10 years to assess its efficacy to fulfill the aspirations of the people of the Eastern Nagaland region. 

It also sought to remind that by an Act of Parliament under Article 371 (A), Clause (1) sub-clause (d) a special provision was inserted to administer the areas of Eastern Nagaland – the present ENPO areas as a special instrument to look after the special needs of the people of these areas, and Clause (2) sub-clause (b) “where any money is provided by the Govt of India to the Govt of Nagaland to meet the requirement of the State of Nagaland as a whole, the Governor shall in his discretion arrange for an equitable allocation of that money between the Tuensang district and the rest of the State.” This act, the ENPO however noted, had not brought any desired effect. 

While efforts of successive governments of the state in more recent years to bring the people of the Eastern Nagaland area at par with the more advanced areas of Nagaland is mentionable, however, due to lack of basic foundations the Eastern Nagaland areas are still falling behind the rest of the Nagas by much more than a century's gap, the ENPO maintained. 

It said advancements and progress will remain a far cry in these combative milieus of the present century unless these areas are looked after by granting and fulfilling the demand and aspiration of a Statehood under special provision and status in line with Article 371 (A). 

Stating that “this is as much of a test for us as it is a significant responsibility to pursue development and advancement to prove that, given the opportunity that we can indeed do well,” the ENPO said they stand on the threshold of this dialogue; and “hope to move forward courageously with the prayers and blessings of our fellow Nagas to a future where we can be equal contributors to the prosperity of our Naga fraternity.” 

June 30 consultative meeting postponed 

DIMAPUR, JUNE 27 (MExN): Home Department, Government of Nagaland has postponed the consultative meeting convened on June 30 in Kohima with regard to the proposal for constitution of an Autonomous Council of the 6 eastern districts namely Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Shamator and Noklak. A notice issued by Principal Secretary, Home, Abhijit Sinha said the consultative meeting hereby “stands postponed due to unavoidable reasons till further notice.”