‘Responsibility of GBs to be unbiased in its judgment’

Mokokchung District GB Association along with GBs from Tuli area after a coordination meeting at Tuli Town on November 4.

Mokokchung District GB Association along with GBs from Tuli area after a coordination meeting at Tuli Town on November 4.

MDGBA holds coordination meeting with GBs of Tuli Area

Tuli November  5 (MExN): The Mokokchung District GB Association (MDGBA) held a coordination meeting with the GBs of Tuli Area at Tuli Town on November 4. The coordination meeting was attended by GBs from sixteen villages and Tuli town area led by Langpangkong GB officials and Head GB Tuli.

The MDGBA was led by their president Along Jamir, general secretary Imlitemsu, Temjen finance secretary and Ongpangkong area GB secretary Merang, a press release issued by MDGBA stated.

Jamir in his address said that GBs institution is one of the oldest institutes established during the British era and are government appointees who are inducted after taking oath but there are no salaries for GBs.

He said that GBs role is recognized in village administration as per the directive of Commissioner Nagaland dated 28th October 2023.

He added that GBs are active members in the village level customary court as per the provision of the village Council Act 1978 and are empowered to act as law enforcement agency as enshrined in the administration of Justice and Police Act of 1937.

GBs are to assist the government in times of election, census and any important programme/ activities of the government, he pointed out. 

Bringing reference, Jamir said as per the letter from the Commissioner Nagaland on October 28 2023, GBs are being neglected/ sidelined in the functioning of Village Council/Village Development Board (VDBs) which does not bode well for District Administration and this should happen considering their indispensible role in the village.

The Commissioner, therefore, made it cleared to the Village Council in the letter that GBs should not be sidelined but rather they should be made an integral part in the decision making and in the functioning of village council including developmental activities  

Jamir further asserted that GBs are at the forefront in any given difficult situation, therefore, the Red clothes is not a mere piece of clothes. It represents the authority and responsibility of GB to be unbiased in its judgment and recharge its duties wisely.

He also requested their fellow GBs to uphold and preserve GB ethics and ethos at the highest esteem and earn people’s respect from their works and actions.

He said that GBs is the only Association where there is no distinction among the Naga tribes and remained the only institution without any division, therefore, appealed his fellow GBs to unite to work for the uplift and welfare of our Naga society.

During the interactive session, there were suggestion from the house that a clear cut guidelines regarding the powers and functions between the Village Council and urban area ward authority should be made.

In this regard, the MDGBA president clarified that the GB’s powers and functions have been bestowed by the authority, therefore, they should know their duties and function and act accordingly.

He also urged the GBs to maintain a good cordial relationship with administration and the public, besides, every communiqué from the Government should be initiated by the GBs accordingly.