Nagaland government approves creation of Shamator district, recognition of Tikhir tribe

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Jan. 19 (EMN): The government of Nagaland has approved the creation of Shamator district and recognition of Tikhir as a separate Naga tribe, updated Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha on Wednesday.

The move came 10 days after the Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC) called off its agitation following state Cabinet’s decision to engage a third party to discuss matters related to the Shamator district demand.

With the announcement of three new districts — Tseminyu, Niuland and Chümoukedima – last month, and now Shamator, the number of districts in the state will increase to 16.

Sinha updated that the state Cabinet, in its meeting on Wednesday, took note of the resolutions adopted by the YTC and Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC) at the joint consultative meeting on January 13, wherein the councils unanimously decided to support the upgrading of Shamator sub-division in Tuensang district into a full-fledged district and recognition of Tikhir tribe.

“The Cabinet was also apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding entered into by the YTC and TTC today (Wednesday) in the morning, wherein, in the interest of maintenance of peace and harmony, undertakings were given that no coercive measure, whatsoever, shall be adopted by any of the member of Yimkhiung community to ensure retention or reversion of any member of Tikhir community to Yimkhiung community, or vice versa, in the event of recognition of Tikhir as a separate Naga tribe,” read the official press release.

“Undertakings were also given that every member of Tikhir or Yimkhiung community, wherever they are, shall have freedom to choose the community to which he/she belongs, and further, the subject of any issue / dispute between the members of the two brother tribes should be localised and resolved through customary laws and practices and status quo will be maintained,” it added.

The presidents of YTC and TTC, who were invited to the Cabinet meeting along with other tribal representatives, apprised the house about the agreement reached between the two councils “on all the issues which were lying unresolved for long”, after which the Cabinet deliberated further and approved the creation of Shamator district and recognition of Tikhir tribe, according to the update.

“The Cabinet deeply appreciated the hard work and sincere efforts made by leaders of both the communities for overcoming their differences amicably, and reaching consensus on all the issues,” read the press release.