On the 25th may 2007,the people of the four backward districts of the State of Nagaland ,namely, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation consisting of Mon,Longleng,Tuensang and Kiphire districts had passed a resolution in Tuensang Headquarters demanding for a full-fledged State ( Frontier Nagaland ).The same was reaffirmed on 15th June 2011 at Longleng Town.
Following the written memorandum submitted by the ENPO to the Prime Minister of India ,the Nagaland State Cabinet sat on 25.11.2010 to offer views to the GOI (as required by the latter )on the demand for a separate State. A high level official Committee headed by the present Chief Secretary, formed by the Cabinet to study ENPO’s demand as well as other points it raised, had submitted its findings and recommendations to the State government on 23.5.2011, and after which the Cabinet constituted five Sub-Committees to pursue the findings, etc. On 20.7.2011, the Joint Meeting of the DAN legislators and MPs had recommended to the Cabinet, the creation of an Autonomous Council for the area falling under the jurisdiction of ENPO. On 23.7.2011, the State Cabinet decided to recommend to the Centre for an Autonomous Council under the provision of the Sixth schedule of the Constitution of India, for the four backward districts of the State of Nagaland. On 9.8.2011, a State Cabinet delegation led by the Chief Minister of Nagaland met the Union Home Minister and apprised him of the development pertaining to the current issue. However, the ENPO did not welcome the recommendation made to the Government of India for granting Autonomous Council under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India to the four districts of Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire covered under ENPO. According to ENPO, the demand for a separate State is ‘unnegotiable and uncompromising’.
The State Government of Nagaland took eight months (25.11.2010 to 23.7.2011) to examine and decide in favour of recommending an Autonomous Council to the Govt of India (instead of a State as demanded by the ENPO).
THE RATIONAL BEHIND THE SIXTH SCHEDULE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA: The provision of the Sixth schedule to the Constitution have evolved a separate scheme for the administration of the tribal areas in Assam ,Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura through the institutions of District Councils or Regional Councils. These Councils are vested with legislative authority on special subjects, allotted sources of taxation, and given powers to set up and administer their system of justice and maintain administrative and welfare services in respect of land, revenue, forest, education, public health, etc.
ASSAM: For example, the North Cachar Hills district and also the Karbi Anglong district have their respective Autonomous Councils, etc. An Autonomous Council consist of not more than 30 (thirty) members for a term of five years. The Governor nominates not more than four members to the Council while the others are elected on the basis of adult suffrage. The Chief Executive Member, the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman (equivalent to Speaker and Deputy speaker) are elected from among the Members and the Chief Executive Member selects the other Executive Members .There are different internal rules for different Autonomous District Councils.
MEGHALAYA: In Meghalaya, the District Councils are dominated by the tribal communities .Each of the Autonomous District Councils in Meghalaya consists of 30(thirty) seats.
TRIPURA: In Tripura, each of the Autonomous Councils has altogether 30 (thirty) seats.
MIZORAM: There are three Autonomous District Councils.
The four backward districts constitute 30% of the total State population (19, 80,602 / 5, 72, 098); 36% of the total land area (16, 579 / 6,014); 33 % of the legislators (60/20).
Under the present situation a few following questions may be posed for public interest: What prompted the DAN Legislators and MPs to suggest for only one Autonomous Council for the four districts? Whether the implications and the practical functioning of the (Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India (in the four States as mentioned above) have been examined through on the spot study and visits before the present recommendation was made? Whether the high level official Committee headed by the Chief Secretary had also suggested for the Autonomous Council in its report submitted on 23.5.2011 to the State government? Whether the pulse of the ENPO was felt/examined before the recommendation was made to the Government of India? Whether it would have been not to recommend the Autonomous Council? Whether it would have been advisable to recommend some economic packages only?
The Naga Hills Tuensang Area Act, 1957 was enacted in 1957 forming a new administrative unit in Assam by the name Naga Hills Tuensang Area comprising of former Naga Hills district of Assam and the Tuensang Frontier Division of the North East Frontier Agency. On the 1st December 1957, Naga Hills Tuensang Area came into being and it was divided into three districts, namely, Kohima, Mokokchung, and Tuensang .Mon district was carved out of Tuensang district in 1973. Later on two more new districts, namely, Kiphire district and Longleng district were formed out of the Tuensang district in the year 2004.
After the attainment of Statehood, overall progress had taken place in Nagaland. Signs of progress were also seen in the ENPO areas. These areas also had their own share of annual fund allotment from the state Exchequer to carry out development activities and establishments of various institutions.
Amongst many other factors, the following may also be taken as responsible for the unsatisfactory progress of these areas. The overall administration had been made difficult due to the distance from the State Capital (Tuensang 267 Kms; Longleng 340 Kms; Mon 354 Kms and Kiphire 254 Kms). Due to the delay in execution of works and lack of effective monitoring mechanisms, the developmental activities were affected. It may also not be wrong to say that the mass absenteeism / irregularities of the government servants posted to these areas (especially from the advanced districts) had been the greatest cause for the underdevelopment of ENPO regions. Many of the infrastructural development that were given earlier were also left un-nursed.
According to Dr.S.C. Jamir, ‘It does not make sense to ask for district autonomy’. Whatever autonomy is available under the Indian Constitution has already been given. (Source: Morung Express dt.14.8.2011). Does this mean that the solution lies elsewhere?
54 (fifty four) years have passed since TUENSANG AREA and NAGA HILLS had formed into one administrative unit. Today ENPO feels alienated and wants separation from the other family members! They feel that they have not been treated properly in the family. They are longing for something else .Are they alone to be blamed for their underdevelopment? Whether the past and the present leaders hailing from these four districts should also own responsibility in varying degrees for the present underdevelopment?
Be that as it may, the State Government and the other elder family members may patiently and with tolerance (not hastely) examine this malady and prescribe the panacea to settle the present ailment.
Following the written memorandum submitted by the ENPO to the Prime Minister of India ,the Nagaland State Cabinet sat on 25.11.2010 to offer views to the GOI (as required by the latter )on the demand for a separate State. A high level official Committee headed by the present Chief Secretary, formed by the Cabinet to study ENPO’s demand as well as other points it raised, had submitted its findings and recommendations to the State government on 23.5.2011, and after which the Cabinet constituted five Sub-Committees to pursue the findings, etc. On 20.7.2011, the Joint Meeting of the DAN legislators and MPs had recommended to the Cabinet, the creation of an Autonomous Council for the area falling under the jurisdiction of ENPO. On 23.7.2011, the State Cabinet decided to recommend to the Centre for an Autonomous Council under the provision of the Sixth schedule of the Constitution of India, for the four backward districts of the State of Nagaland. On 9.8.2011, a State Cabinet delegation led by the Chief Minister of Nagaland met the Union Home Minister and apprised him of the development pertaining to the current issue. However, the ENPO did not welcome the recommendation made to the Government of India for granting Autonomous Council under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India to the four districts of Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire covered under ENPO. According to ENPO, the demand for a separate State is ‘unnegotiable and uncompromising’.
The State Government of Nagaland took eight months (25.11.2010 to 23.7.2011) to examine and decide in favour of recommending an Autonomous Council to the Govt of India (instead of a State as demanded by the ENPO).
THE RATIONAL BEHIND THE SIXTH SCHEDULE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA: The provision of the Sixth schedule to the Constitution have evolved a separate scheme for the administration of the tribal areas in Assam ,Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura through the institutions of District Councils or Regional Councils. These Councils are vested with legislative authority on special subjects, allotted sources of taxation, and given powers to set up and administer their system of justice and maintain administrative and welfare services in respect of land, revenue, forest, education, public health, etc.
ASSAM: For example, the North Cachar Hills district and also the Karbi Anglong district have their respective Autonomous Councils, etc. An Autonomous Council consist of not more than 30 (thirty) members for a term of five years. The Governor nominates not more than four members to the Council while the others are elected on the basis of adult suffrage. The Chief Executive Member, the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman (equivalent to Speaker and Deputy speaker) are elected from among the Members and the Chief Executive Member selects the other Executive Members .There are different internal rules for different Autonomous District Councils.
MEGHALAYA: In Meghalaya, the District Councils are dominated by the tribal communities .Each of the Autonomous District Councils in Meghalaya consists of 30(thirty) seats.
TRIPURA: In Tripura, each of the Autonomous Councils has altogether 30 (thirty) seats.
MIZORAM: There are three Autonomous District Councils.
The four backward districts constitute 30% of the total State population (19, 80,602 / 5, 72, 098); 36% of the total land area (16, 579 / 6,014); 33 % of the legislators (60/20).
Under the present situation a few following questions may be posed for public interest: What prompted the DAN Legislators and MPs to suggest for only one Autonomous Council for the four districts? Whether the implications and the practical functioning of the (Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India (in the four States as mentioned above) have been examined through on the spot study and visits before the present recommendation was made? Whether the high level official Committee headed by the Chief Secretary had also suggested for the Autonomous Council in its report submitted on 23.5.2011 to the State government? Whether the pulse of the ENPO was felt/examined before the recommendation was made to the Government of India? Whether it would have been not to recommend the Autonomous Council? Whether it would have been advisable to recommend some economic packages only?
The Naga Hills Tuensang Area Act, 1957 was enacted in 1957 forming a new administrative unit in Assam by the name Naga Hills Tuensang Area comprising of former Naga Hills district of Assam and the Tuensang Frontier Division of the North East Frontier Agency. On the 1st December 1957, Naga Hills Tuensang Area came into being and it was divided into three districts, namely, Kohima, Mokokchung, and Tuensang .Mon district was carved out of Tuensang district in 1973. Later on two more new districts, namely, Kiphire district and Longleng district were formed out of the Tuensang district in the year 2004.
After the attainment of Statehood, overall progress had taken place in Nagaland. Signs of progress were also seen in the ENPO areas. These areas also had their own share of annual fund allotment from the state Exchequer to carry out development activities and establishments of various institutions.
Amongst many other factors, the following may also be taken as responsible for the unsatisfactory progress of these areas. The overall administration had been made difficult due to the distance from the State Capital (Tuensang 267 Kms; Longleng 340 Kms; Mon 354 Kms and Kiphire 254 Kms). Due to the delay in execution of works and lack of effective monitoring mechanisms, the developmental activities were affected. It may also not be wrong to say that the mass absenteeism / irregularities of the government servants posted to these areas (especially from the advanced districts) had been the greatest cause for the underdevelopment of ENPO regions. Many of the infrastructural development that were given earlier were also left un-nursed.
According to Dr.S.C. Jamir, ‘It does not make sense to ask for district autonomy’. Whatever autonomy is available under the Indian Constitution has already been given. (Source: Morung Express dt.14.8.2011). Does this mean that the solution lies elsewhere?
54 (fifty four) years have passed since TUENSANG AREA and NAGA HILLS had formed into one administrative unit. Today ENPO feels alienated and wants separation from the other family members! They feel that they have not been treated properly in the family. They are longing for something else .Are they alone to be blamed for their underdevelopment? Whether the past and the present leaders hailing from these four districts should also own responsibility in varying degrees for the present underdevelopment?
Be that as it may, the State Government and the other elder family members may patiently and with tolerance (not hastely) examine this malady and prescribe the panacea to settle the present ailment.
Imti Ao
Kashiram, Dimapur
