No vote, but a seat at the table | Nagaland Cabinet allows DCCIs to attend ULB meetings as special invitees

In a development following the April 30, 2025 Cabinet meeting, the Nagaland government has approved the inclusion of representatives from District Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DCCIs) as special invitees in Urban Local Body (ULB) meetings held in District Headquarters. However, these representatives will not be accorded voting rights.

According to an official communication issued by Additional Secretary T Nchumbemo Odyuo (NCS) and addressed to CEOs and EOs of Municipal and Town Councils across multiple districts and sub-divisions, the decision responds to a demand by the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) for government nominee representation in ULBs.

“In inviting a reference to the subject cited above and with reference to the demand of the CNCCI for a Government Nominee representation in the ULBs of the District HQs,” the letter states, “this is to convey that the Cabinet in its meeting held on the 30th of April 2025, have directed that 1 (one) representative of the DCCI of respective District HQs be invited as special invitee to the meetings of the ULBs of District HQs whenever matters relating to price regulations, availability of essential commodities etc are taken up for discussions or wherever it is deemed appropriate to invite.”

The directive is applicable to a wide network of urban local bodies, including the municipal councils of Kohima, Dimapur, and Mokokchung, and town councils in locations such as Wokha, Phek, Zunheboto, and Chümoukedima, among others.

While the inclusion marks a recognition of DCCI’s role in economic and commercial matters, the government made it clear that these representatives “should not be accorded the Right to Vote.”

The communication concludes by asking the relevant authorities to take “necessary action” in accordance with the directive.

The decision is seen as a partial fulfillment of CNCCI’s broader push for formal participation in local governance, particularly in matters impacting market regulations and essential supplies.

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether the nine aggrieved district chambers of commerce and the CNCCI will accept the Cabinet decision. They had earlier proposed an indefinite voluntary shutter down of business establishments across the affected districts from April 24 due to “continued government apathy and lack of response to our long-standing demand for nominee representation in ULB.” Consequently, the government invited the aggrieved party to a meeting on April 23 where they reiterated that their demand was non-negotiable. The government then “requested a period of two weeks to address the matter.”

MT