The Kohima Village Council (KVC) has conveyed support to three organisations – Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat (AKMWP), Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF), and All Ward Union Mokokchung Town (AWUMT) – in its demand for amendment of Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 before holding the much-awaited urban local bodies (ULB) election.
The KVC urged the state government to amend the Nagaland Municipal Act pertaining to ‘taxation on lands and buildings’ and formulate a policy for nominating women with voting rights equivalent to 33% seats in lieu of a quota and reservation system, as demanded by AKMWP, DUCCF and AWUMT.
The KVC is in total rejection of the "government notification" for conducting the ULB election on May 16 2023 until the cited two sections of the Nagaland Municipal Act are amended, read a press release signed by village council chairman Helievi-o Solo.
“In case the Government fails to listen and address the genuine demand of the people, and proceed with the election process regardless of endangering or infringing Article 371A, the people of the soil may resort to anything for protection and retention of their birthright. All intending candidates are hereby informed not to file nomination till the matter is settled,” it stated.
Citing past ULB elections held in the state, particularly in 2017 that was announced with 33% reservation for women but was disrupted by violent protests, which claimed two lives, the KVC said “we have witnessed that forceful initiation by the government with suppressive intentions in this matter will never succeed.”
“Let us learn from those past ugly events we have come across and refrain from repeating the same mistake again,” it added. Dimapur, March 15 (EMN)