A two-day Get Together cum Cultural Program of the Central Nagaland Tribes Council was held in Wokha hosted by the Lotha Hoho on May 13 & 14, 2022. On May 13, CNTC held its executive meeting which also featured the formation of the Central Nagaland Women’s Association with K Atoli Sema as the President and Zuchano Patton as General Secretary. The second day featured cultural performances by Ao, Sumi and Lotha cultural troupes as well as a number of speeches by leaders of apex bodies of the three communities.
CNTC President T Lanu Imchen in the presidential address said, “CNTC came into being to work for the wellbeing of the three brothers (Ao, Lotha and Sumi) and to work together in unity for the common cause of the entire Nagas of Nagaland.”
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton, who is also the Treasurer of Central Nagaland Legislators Forum, said that the delegation led by Nagaland Chief Minister is leaving for Delhi to have talks with the central leaders in regard to Naga Political Issue. He appealed to all the leaders and public to extend support so that peaceful settlement of Naga Political Issue can be brought about before the next General Election 2023.
Echoing the words of most speakers at the event, Patton stated that the three tribes of Central Nagaland namely, Ao Sema and Lotha are being neglected in all fields of development.
“We are considered advanced in education but even Chakhesang people are more advanced than us. They should be removed from the backward quota,” he said. “If the ENPO has asked for 45% backward reservation then why not the Lothas, the Sumis and the Aos ask for 35% reservation and let the remaining go to Tenyimi?” he posed.
He then urged the three tribes to prioritize in bringing a solution of the Naga political issue. Speaking on the issue, he said that the only thing left to tell the Government of India was to bring in President’s Rule if they cannot bring in the solution.
“I think it’s about time we ask the stakeholders whether they want the solution or not… There are people who do not want the solution and just want to rip off the benefits of being a high official in the underground,” he explained.
He also lamented on the land owner issue that often results whenever any development plan progresses in the area and called it “embarrassing.”
He appealed the people to stop practicing such “embarrassing” acts of asking for compensation and suggested the CNTC to come up with a resolution by making sure that such issues do not rise further.
Patton also acknowledged the need to have a full-fledged engineering college and mentioned how the oldest law college, Mokokchung Law College, is still a privately run college till date and shared his hopes of turning it into a government college.
Further, backing his accusation that development continue to get shifted to Chumoukedima area, he mentioned how the Global University in Wokha was shifted to Chumoukedima. He also suggested the CNTC leaders to tour the areas of Satoi, Mangkolemba and Bhandari and be the witness to the poor condition of those areas.
He also urged the three tribes to stay away from “violent politics.” In conclusion, he emphasized on the importance of bringing the Naga political solution through unity and the importance of foothill road.
Exploration and Extraction of Oil and Natural Gas among resolutions adopted by CNTC
On the second day of the “Get Together Cum Cultural Program’ at Tiyi Hall, Wokha which was a two-day event that began on May 13, the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) adopted seven resolutions among which urging the Government of Nagaland to start exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas was the first to be adopted.
The second resolution was adopted in the observance that the 3 districts of central Nagaland have been deprived of development in comparison to other districts of Nagaland and hence, urged the Government of Nagaland to ensure proper development of the 3 districts at par with the rest of the districts.
The house also resolved to review the constitution of the CNTC.
The house also resolved to constitute three sub-units, namely: Central Nagaland Coordination Committee of Kohima, Central Nagaland Gazetted Officers’ Forum and Central Nagaland Women Coordination Committee of Kohima.
Further, the formation of the Central Nagaland Youth Forum was also resolved.
The house further urged the Indian government and the negotiating parties to expedite political solutions with the knowledge of stakeholders before the upcoming state general election in 2023.
The house also extended its unflinching support to the Nagaland Foothill Roads Committee towards the completion of the project.
Recommendations by the grassroots level workers thrown into the dustbin in the Secretariat: Imkong L Imchen
Imkong Imchen while delivering his speech at the CNTC get together cum cultural program proposed certain principles such as unity and equitable distribution of development across the state.
He then stressed the need for tribal hohos to intervene in the issues with the landowners. On this, he mentioned how Mokokchung Town is now beyond repair as both the landowners and the purchasers have committed a mistake in such a way that the road can never be widened unless the sides are to be demolished.
He pointed out that the same fate will be meted out to Zunheboto and Wokha as well soon and, therefore, urged the tribal hohos to quickly intervene and save their regrets of tomorrow.
He then vouched for equitable development across the state and talked about how the government should help “others” but not at the expense of the three tribes.
“We are happy that the government is helping other areas but we are disappointed for the government is helping them at the expense of these 3 districts. It has been neglected for too long,” he lamented.
“The neglect is not only on the land development but even in the human resource development. We are not demanding at the expense of other districts but we are asking for our share. These three districts have sacrificed and contributed a lot to the development of this state,” he continued.
He then explained how District officers have no powers with them and thus urged the CNTC to take up the matter. “Recommendations by grassroots level workers including the HoDs, DC and the DPDB are thrown into the dustbin in the Secretariat,” he said.
He also asked the three tribes to demonstrate feelings of brotherhood and oneness in action and not become just another union. “CNTC must not become a union of showbiz. CNTC must become a union in action like real business people. The workers and leaders of the CNTC must be committed,” he said.
In conclusion, he appealed to pursue an amicable solution to the Naga political issue which he believes is the most urgent need. “If the Government of India cannot bring an amicable solution, then they must activate the instruments of the constitution, be it shorten or lengthen the term or invoke article 356 to initiate the Naga talk,” he stated.
He then urged the CNTC to approach the NSCN-IM and the 7 NNPGs if required to bring an end solution to the Naga political issue.
CNTC is not a political platform: Kaito Aye
Minister of Agriculture, Kaito Aye, who is also the convener of the Central Naga Legislators Forum, while speaking at the CNTC get together cum cultural program in Wokha on Saturday said, “CNTC is not a political platform. People have been interpreting and can interpret it the way they want, but it is a welfare platform.”
Following this, Kaito talked about how the three tribes should play the role of responsibility in uniting the Nagas and must come together to use the CNTC as a social and welfare platform. He hoped that through this coming together more developmental activities will be seen in the three districts.
“The Lotha community is picking up in Human resource development, which I am very happy for, but economically and infrastructural development-wise, all the three tribes are falling behind other communities,” he observed.
He also shared how he has often raised the issue of “equal development” during the cabinet meetings asking why development is met out only to Kohima and Dimapur.
“Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Wokha need equal development in terms of infrastructure. Look at Mokokchung that was and is among the most advanced tribe but somehow is struggling today together with us, although they are bureaucratically advanced,” he pointed out.
He hoped that such issues will now be tackled together with the help of CNTC and offered any help the legislators forum can provide.
He also appealed to the CNTC officials and executives to be careful of misinformation at this point and requested them to not misuse the platform at all costs. “This platform should be strong, unique and must be a platform to help the Nagas,” he said.
He also spoke on the need of bringing the Naga political solution first and asked the council to live in goodwill and allow their legacy to be followed by generations to come.
“Let all the leaders come together and change the narrow mindset we have and work in sincerity for the welfare of the Nagas,” he concluded.
The 3 tribes must unite together: Amenba Yaden
Addressing the CNTC get together cum cultural program at Wokha on Saturday, Amenba Yaden, MLA, talked about equitable distribution of job opportunities and development and encouraged to have unity among the three tribes.
He then explained how the 16 tribes of Nagaland slowly got divided into the Eastern bloc and the Tenyimi bloc leaving out only the central Nagaland bloc which was neglected for decades.
“The three tribes must unite and work together. We used to be leaders in the past but now we are the ones that are being neglected,” he said.
He then pressed on the need for the 3 tribes to unite and take the society towards advancement by showing good examples of leadership with integrity.
“Personal agenda mindset should not be there. We need to unite and make sure that CNTC should not become just another association,” he said.
He then concluded how the association with 25 Central Nagaland legislators, from different political parties, was formed for a noble cause.
