Speaking at the inauguration of the newly built “Arok Kilem” community building in Sungkomen Ward, Mokokchung Town, MLA and Advisor for Water Resources, Government of Nagaland, Tongpang Ozukum on Friday emphasized the critical role of local self-governance and sustainable development while. Ozukum acknowledged the Sungkomen Ward Council and the Building Construction Committee for completing the construction despite limited resources. He described the new facility as an important step towards effective governance and community development at the grassroots level.
Highlighting India’s three-tier governance structure—the Centre, the State, and the Local—Ozukum underscored that local self-governing bodies are empowered to generate their own revenue. He pointed out that while government funding is crucial, it is not sufficient to meet all development needs.
Citing crowd funding, community donations, and public contributions as current practices in many wards, he said such efforts, though commendable, need to be supplemented by more sustainable revenue models.
No system of governance can function in the long term without taxation, he said, adding that the implementation of the Nagaland Municipal Act will be undertaken gradually, including its taxation provisions. Ozukum also stressed that Nagaland has only recently begun implementing the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) system, while the rest of the country has decades of experience. He urged both citizens and ward leaders to better understand and adapt to the ULB governance structure, while reiterating that ULBs must find ways to become self-reliant.
On the national initiative of Viksit Bharat—India’s vision to become a developed country by 2047—Ozukum shared that Nagaland is aligning its goals through the Viksit Nagaland campaign. A state-level meeting was recently held on June 10 to identify key areas of development. While he admitted that it is difficult to predict how much progress can be achieved, he stressed that coordinated efforts between the government and the public will be the driving force.
Touching on urban reforms, the Advisor said that municipalities in Nagaland are still in their early stages and need robust development planning. He pointed out that central ministries are ready to assist, but local initiative is equally vital. Emphasizing the Swachh Bharat Mission, he spoke on the need for cleanliness, sanitation, and waste segregation.
Addressing the growing threat of plastic pollution, Ozukum posed a challenge to Sungkomen Ward: “Can this ward become the first plastic-free municipal ward in Nagaland?” He acknowledged there would be initial difficulties, but affirmed that with strong community will, it is indeed achievable—even without large financial backing.
The first concrete community hall in Sungkomen Ward was constructed in 2018. In 2022, it underwent renovation with the removal of the tin roof and the addition of a concrete slab, upon which the new structure, Arok Kilem, was built at a cost of Rs 18.43 lakh.
Speaking at the inauguration of Arok Kilem, the newly constructed community hall of Sungkomen Ward in Mokokchung town, on behalf of the traditional landowners, Kichutzar clan elder Temsunungsang Kichu expressed regret that landowners are being exploited today due to changing government rules. Most of Sungkomen Ward falls under the traditional lands of the Kichutzar Clan of Mokokchung Village and the site of the community hall was provided by the clan in 1995.
Kichu recalled that fourth-grade government jobs were once reserved for landowners, but rules have since changed: all vacancies are now filled through interviews. He alleged this change was made by those in power to accommodate their own candidates through dubious means.
He stated that development would not be possible without the contribution of landowners, who inherited their land from their forefathers. While the public may not always appreciate the landowners, he pointed out that they had given up their inheritance for the development of the larger community — yet they now have little or no land left and are also no longer given fourth-grade government jobs.
In Mokokchung, he noted that at least five wards — Sungkomen, Alongmen, Dilong, Penli, and Sangtemla — fall under the traditional lands of the Kichutzar Clan. In all these wards, the clan has provided land for public infrastructure.
In Sungkomen, besides the church and community hall, land was provided for various government departmental buildings such as the Forest Department, Supply Department, NST, and others. In Sangtemla, the land supports the DC Bungalow, DC office complex, Treasury, and numerous department offices, community halls, and churches. In Sangtemla Ward, the DC Bungalow, DC office complex, Treasury, several other government offices, community halls, and churches have all been built on land provided by the clan.
Supporting his claims, he stated that there are currently several fourth-grade job vacancies in the DC office establishment, but the government is filling them through interviews, thereby depriving landowners of positions previously guaranteed during the original land acquisitions of the 1960s.
The clan elder acknowledged the Sungkomen Ward Yimden for inviting the landowners and expressed hope for continued cordial relations in the future.