Calls for ILP reforms, judicial appointments, VDB restructuring, and One Government One Tax reiterated
A total of 195 representatives from 56 Village Councils under Chümoukedima District participated in the first district-wide meeting of Village Councils held at the Chümoukedima Village Council Hall, where a series of unanimous resolutions were adopted, including the formation of a district-level association and appeals to the government on multiple governance and administrative matters.
The house resolved to revive the Chümoukedima Area Village Chairmen Association, originally founded in 2015, and to reconstitute it under the new name — Chümoukedima District Village Councils’ Association (CDVCA). The newly appointed office bearers include Razouvotuo Chatsu, VCC of Chümoukedima and former President of the Angami Public Organization, as Interim Convenor, Vika H Chishi, VCM of Unity Village Council, as Secretary, and Sebastian Zumvu as Spokesperson.
The Association also named eight Advisors: Zhato Kimho (President, Chakhroma Public Organization and VCC of Piphema A), Ghuzhi Shohe (VCC of Diphupar), Reyopoyi Nyekha (VCC of Naga United), Dejiraj Giriso (Head GB of Dhansiripar), Tokishe Assumi (GB of Thilixu), Charlie Sekhose (VCC of 5th Mile Model), LK Swu (Head GB of Pimla), and Adv Hukavi Zhimomi (VCC of Chekiya) as Legal Advisor.
The gathering placed on record its “appreciation to the Government of Nagaland for proposing to implement the Inner Line Regulation regime strictly,” and pledged that the Village Councils “shall extend their full support to the enforcing agencies to ensure total success of the implementation.” It also resolved to request the Government to allow a hybrid practice of Online and Offline modes, and urged it to “make the Online mode more Guarantor-friendly.” Additionally, the Councils requested that ILPs for agricultural labourers be issued for a period of one year instead of the existing 90 days.
On legal and customary matters, the house stated its “sincere appreciation of the Government’s endeavour to uphold, strengthen and [streamline] the Naga Customary laws by way of notifying the Part 4(A) of the Act through the Rules for Administration of Justice & Police in Nagaland (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2025.” However, it also resolved to “request the Government to urgently consider the concerns raised by the Nagaland Bar Association in recent times vis-à-vis the Fifth Amendment.” The Councils further requested the Government to:
“Frame the rules for the appointment of the Presiding Officer and the other two Members of the District Customary Courts,”“Frame the procedure for conduct of the proceedings of these Courts,” and “Give preference to retired Dobashis and renowned GBs while filling up the vacancies in the District Customary Courts.”
Another significant resolution called for the dissolution of all VDB Secretary Associations in the district, with a directive that “all the VDB Secretaries henceforth disassociate themselves from any such Association/s.”
The house also reiterated the call of the Naga public for ‘One Government, One Tax’ to the Underground factions in the District, and appealed to the Government of India to “strictly implement the provisions of the Ceasefire Ground Rules and to review [them] so as to ensure the designated Ceasefire Monitoring Offices of the factions are not converted into safe havens [for] law breakers.”
Further appeals were made to key departments:
The Department of Rural Development was requested to “post a Project Officer in the District headquarters for the convenience of VDB works and activities.”
The Department of School Education was urged to “post the District Education Officer for the convenience of the schools in the district.”
And the Department of Law and Justice was requested to “immediately create/post a District Sessions Judge for the convenience of administering Justice since the infrastructure is already arranged.”
The resolutions were issued in a statement by Sebastian Zumvu, Spokesperson of CDVCA.