Rongmei issue, Municipal Act: Naga Hoho seeks re-examination

Dimapur, October 14 : The Naga Hoho urged Chief Minister TR Zeliang to re-examine the decision of the State Government, through the constituted Cabinet Sub-Committee, on Rongmei issue in depth and find out the solution in consultation with all stakeholders/Tribal Hohos at the earliest. It also sought review for amendments of Municipal Act 2001.

The Naga Hoho made the submission in a representation appended by its president P Chuba Ozukum and general secretary Mutsikhoyu Yhobu after a joint delegation of Naga Hoho, Angami Public Organization and Chakhesang Public Organization called on the Chief Minister today to press upon the State Government to re-examine the issues pertaining to Municipal Act of 2001 and recognition of Rongmei tribe.
The nine-member delegation comprising Naga Hoho executives and presidents and colleagues of APO and CPO held a three-hour-long deliberation on various pertinent subjects apart from Municipal Act and Rongmei issue with the CM, the media cell of Naga Hoho informed in a release today. Minister of School Education & SCERT YItachu also participated in the meeting.

The release termed the meeting as fruitful, saying it “strongly viewed to look into the matter with all seriousness on all confronting issues in the interest of common people”.

The Naga Hoho submitted separate representations to the Chief Minister on Rongmei tribe recognition and Amendment of Municipal Act. 2001.

The representation on Rongmei recognition pointed out that the issue of granting indigenous Naga tribe status to Rongmei community by the Government of Nagaland has resulted in tremendous amount of resentments amongst a cross section of Naga society.

Stating that Naga Hoho is being “hauled up”, the representation said it is alleged that the government had taken such a decision on being “endorsed” by Naga Hoho. “Despite of our repeated clarifications through media and various platforms, the letter written to the Government in 2008 and the position of the Naga Hoho is being misconstrued which is uncalled for,” it said.

The Naga Hoho has fervently appealed to the Chief Minister to take stock of the volatile situation keeping in mind that any such issues should not jeopardize the unity of Naga family at this crucial juncture.

In the memorandum on Amendment of Municipal Act 2001, the Naga Hoho apprised that amongst the various contents of the Act, the 33% women reservation, tax and landholding system are in direct contravention with the rights guaranteed under Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution.

Women Reservation

The Naga Hoho affirmed that it stands unwaveringly with its constituent units in reiterating the time immemorial social, customary and traditional usages of the Nagas where no such “reservation” was practiced by our forefathers.

It opined that the reservation policy of the Government of India is meant for mainstream Indian women. While discussing on the reservation in democratically elected seats to various constitutional bodies in Nagaland, the Government of Nagaland should know that while the Indian society woke up to gender equality in early eighties, the Nagas had elected late Rano Shaiza to the lone Lok Sabha seat of the State in 1977, the memorandum stated. This testifies the fact that there is no stopping for any Naga capable women in our community seeking success even in parliamentary forms, it added.

Tax

The memo said multiple taxation or different forms of taxes under Municipal Act will be contested strongly by the Nagas against the traditional and the conventional usage of taxation in our land. Imposition and collection of tax on land and building by the municipality as a form of revenue generating source for its duties and functions will only do more harm to our Naga society in the present scenario, the Naga Hoho opined.

Land holding System

Considering the peculiarity of the land holding system in Nagaland, the Government needs to understand the basic and unique forms of land ownership and focus on amending the contents which contravene or infringe upon the rights of the Nagas, the Naga Hoho felt.

Observing that the rights of the Nagas are consolidated with this particular Act, the memorandum said a review for amendments is required which is acceptable to all the Nagas as empowered to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly under Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution.

The Naga Hoho foresaw unwanted situation in the State which will widen the division among various sections of the society in the event of failure to amend the Municipal Act and go ahead with the urban local body elections without proper consultations.