A joint consultative meeting involving apex tribal bodies, Dimapur-based tribal Hohos, and the Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) on Monday resolved to push for constructive dialogue with the government and reiterated its demand for issuance of Foothills Road work orders through an open tender process.
The meeting, held in Dimapur as a follow-up to the April 14 resolutions adopted at Hotel Saramati, discussed issues surrounding the second phase of the Foothills Road construction under the SASCI Loan Scheme.
According to the meeting resolutions, the gathering was convened following a communiqué issued earlier by the 15 apex tribal HOHOs requesting the NFHRCC core committee and Dimapur-based tribal organizations to temporarily put on hold the proposed democratic agitation over the issuance of work orders.
The apex tribal bodies had reportedly assured that efforts would be made to facilitate constructive dialogue between the government and the committee regarding the matter.
The meeting stated that discussions centered on reviewing initiatives undertaken toward dialogue and finding a constructive way forward, while reiterating that the Foothills Road Project remains one of the most important aspirations of the people of Nagaland.
However, the meeting also noted that four apex tribal bodies – Ao Senden, Konyak Union, Lotha Hoho, and Phom Peoples Council – expressed inability to attend the meeting, stating that they would not support any organization pursuing protest against the State Government at the present juncture.
It further stated that the Dimapur Lotha Hoho did not attend the meeting despite reportedly receiving no objection from the apex Lotha Hoho.
Similar messages were also conveyed by the Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) and Chakro Public Organisation (CPO), though the organizations reportedly expressed no ill feelings toward the initiatives and efforts of the NFHRCC.
Following deliberations, the meeting adopted three resolutions, including convening an immediate joint meeting involving the 15 apex tribal Hohos, Dimapur-based tribal bodies, and the NFHRCC, to be initiated by the Dimapur-based organizations.
The meeting also resolved to conduct a joint inspection of all ongoing Foothills Road construction works at the earliest.
Further, the meeting reiterated its appeal to the NPWD (R&B) to immediately finalize the issuance of work orders through an open tender process based on the administrative approval accorded under the SASCI Loan Scheme.