NCD installs new team

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Aug. 7 (EMN): Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) installed Etsungmomo Kikon, a retired additional director and former chairman of Lotha Hoho Dimapur, as its president and Huluto Aye as vice president for the tenure (2020-2025) during a programme held at its conference hall on August 7.

The newly elected president was also the acting president from September 7, 2020, following the demise of K Ghoketo Chophy, who passed away on December 11, 2020. Besides the two officials, six other members were also installed for the tenure 2020-2025.

Speaking at the installation programme, Kikon said that in the recent past, NCD had faced numerous challenges and issues including litigation challenging the composition of NCD office bearers which hampered the smooth functioning of the office for the last one year. Kikon added that it has set a bad precedent and damaged the integrity of NCD, which was held in high esteem since its inception in 1949.

Kikon also appreciated the wisdom of the Ao Senso Telonjem Dimapur (ASTD) under the leadership of Meren Longchar, through whose intervention the court case was withdrawn without any conditions. He expressed gratitude to ASTD for facilitating a peaceful closure of the case.

The newly elected NCD president said that the concerted support rendered by ASTD had not only resolved the pending litigation but also immensely strengthened the oldest institution (NCD) in Dimapur towards building a peaceful and just society.

While appreciating the tribal bodies for honouring NCD resolutions by sending two new councillors, he lamented that some are were yet to respond to NCD directives even after two months of peaceful closure of the case.

The president stated that the NCD office cannot be kept in suspense as they have an absolute majority with 32 councillors out of the total 41 represented by 15 tribal hohos/ unions and out of 19 affiliated tribes, two members from Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD) and one from Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU).

Kikon added that NCD would work within the purview of its aims and objectives to safeguard the common interest of Nagas and Dimapur citizens with transparency, accountability and be vigilant against any form of corruption.

He appealed to all the councillors and tribal leaders not to influence the NCD with any political interference or allow external forces to destroy the fabric of unity among the Nagas.

During the programme, the search committee report was presented by its convenor, K Francis. He said that the search committee was authorised to exercise full power as per the constitution under Article 8 of the NDC and the decision of the committee was to be considered legally final and binding.

He mentioned that the committee members held its first consultative meeting on July 29, 2021, at the NCD conference hall and on August 3, 2021. In the process of searching for a viable person for the post of president and other vacancies as per the criteria laid down in the NCD constitution, he said the committee members on completion of satisfactory verification, impartial examination and threadbare discussion unanimously selected the president and vice president (adm).

The NCD office bearers for the tenure of 2020-2025 included Etsungmomo Kikon as president, Huluto Aye as vice president (Admn), GK Rengma as vice president (CB), Thsapongkyu Sangtam as general secretary, Ponghok Phom as joint secretary (Admn), Gangangpou Rongmai as joint secretary, Sapong Chang as finance secretary, and Loula-O Usuo as treasurer.