Nagaland government ready to recommend ENPO’s demand to Centre

No amendment to Article 371 (A) anticipated

KOHIMA — The Nagaland Cabinet has decided to recommend the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation’s (ENPO) demand for a separate entity to the Centre. While the final name for this entity is yet to be determined, the proposed title, Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), is under active consideration.

Announcing this during an interaction with journalists in Kohima on Wednesday, government spokespersons and ministers KG Kenye and CL John said that the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday focused on the ENPO issue, with thorough discussions on the pending matter.

Kenye, who is also the minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs, said that the state government had initially sought further deliberations between the Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union (ENLU) and the ENPO to reach a comprehensive understanding. Subsequent meetings took place over the past few weeks, and the Cabinet received proposals from the ENLU, which were then discussed in detail.

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“All in all, I must say, the government is now ready to recommend and forward the case to the Centre, as anticipated,” he said.

Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change, and Village Guards, CL John explained that the issue had been kept pending due to ongoing discussions regarding the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) draft, which was handed over to the state government by the Union Home Minister before the election. However, the ENPO had refused to engage unless a copy for the ENPO was handed over.

Following the election of a new ENPO team, a meeting was held in July with the ENLU, which advised the ENPO to submit comments and initiate discussions with the state government. The ENLU presented a letter on August 23, and on October 23, met with the ENPO at Noune Resort to discuss the matter. During this meeting, the ENPO requested that no new draft be created and that discussions remain focused on the MoS draft. This draft was subsequently brought before the Cabinet on October 30, he said.

After these developments, the Cabinet agreed to proceed with the recommendation, with Kenye indicating that the comments largely reflect the proposals endorsed by both the ENLU and ENPO. Three Cabinet ministers from the ENPO region were present, and the government accepted the MoS draft proposed by the ENPO, the spokespersons said.

Regarding financial autonomy, Kenye asserted that the draft allows for the governor’s intervention. However, he acknowledged that since funds are sourced from the Centre, there can be delays in release, as stipulated timelines cannot always be followed.

John reiterated that the proposed entity would follow central guidelines and not establish separate new guidelines. He emphasised that financial autonomy is not mentioned in the draft, as the entity would operate under the state of Nagaland and cannot change the original form. He added that the state government’s comments are based solely on the original form of the draft.

He also informed that the ENLU had requested the ENPO to avoid setting October 31 as a deadline for the state government’s response, and the ENPO reportedly agreed to provide additional time. Kenye noted that, since the matter is actively progressing, the ENLU requested the ENPO to refrain from setting an ultimatum.

The ENPO’s request for a separate entity would operate under the ambit of Article 371 (A) within the state of Nagaland, as the ENPO had rejected the option of an autonomous council under the Sixth Schedule. While different names are being proposed, no final decision has been made, and further deliberations and consultations are needed, they said.

Kenye clarified that the Sixth Schedule was ruled out and that the ENPO is not seeking any distinct arrangement outside the original regional council encompassed in Article 371 (A), meaning no amendment to Article 371 (A) is anticipated.

While there is no specific time frame for the state government’s recommendation to be submitted to the Centre, he assured that there is no intention to delay the matter. He stated that the issue would be referred back to the ENLU and ENPO, and a state commission would finalise the recommendations. “I should say, 99.9% are ready,” he added.

In terms of administration, minister John informed that a full-fledged department would not be transferred to the ENPO area but would be facilitated in the form of a mini-secretariat. He explained that the FNT would look after the community reserved areas at the rural level, while the national highways and state highways would be maintained by the Nagaland Public Works Department (NPWD). Local and rural roads would be managed by the FNT.

 Kenye clarified that there would be no bifurcation of any department, but a higher grade would be created at the headquarters, centralised from Kohima.

According to the proposals, a total of 49 members would constitute the FNT, with 42 elected and 7 nominated. This body would form the authority for the region. There would be no changes in the backward quota.