DIMAPUR — Against the backdrop of the recent move to form an apex tribal body of Nagaland under the aegis of the Central Nagaland Tribal Council (CNTC) and Tenyimi Union Nagaland (TUN), the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has said that it will not be “deterred” but continue to act as a “watchdog confirming its objectives.”
The NTC, in a press release, claimed that it has been representing as the ‘tribal apex body for the Nagas of Nagaland’ for the last eleven years, since its official launch in Kohima on October 12, 2013.
The council affirmed that it was formed during a time when the citizens of Nagaland were confronted with countless anomalies and adversities and there was no proper apex tribal body to take these issues to the concerned authorities, in defence of their inherent rights.
“The state of Nagaland was left foundling as if there was no guardian of her citizens to address the issues. The Nagaland Tribes Council was born out of, and in the nick of such prevailing situations. In the process, due consultations with all the tribal hohos in Nagaland were held separately,” it said.
The council also asserted that ever since its inception, the NTC has been relentlessly attending to all matters of importance concerning Nagaland tribes.
“In the conviction and committedness, NTC as an apex tribal organisation of Nagaland will continue to remain as a watchdog confirming its objectives,” it added.
It went on to inform that the basic aims of NTC are to uphold, promote, protect and preserve the social fabric and the cultural heritage of its communities; to foster unity, brotherhood and fraternity amongst the Naga people; to strive towards common goal and for the wellbeing of the member tribes; to extend solidarity towards the interest of each member tribe and propagate the need of peace and eschew any form of violence.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]On the reported Nov. 21 meeting held in Kohima for formation of the proposed Nagaland tribal apex body, the NTC said that, as per the working papers and write-up available in the print and social media, the tribal apex body will have three levels, namely, Tier-I, which includes tribal level; Tier-II, the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC), Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO),Tenyimi Union Nagaland (TUN); and Tier-III, state-level tribal organisation with representatives from all tribes of Nagaland.
It also informed that the proposed apex body is to be formed in accordance with Chapter-II; Clause 23 of the Nagaland Village and Tribal Council Act 1978 (Amendment of 2022).
“The tribal bodies under TUN are the Angami Public Organisation (APO), Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO), Pochury Hoho, Rengma Hoho and Nagaland Zeliang People Organisation (NZPO).
“However, in the present structure of State Level, Tier-III under TUN category another new born tribe ‘Zeliangrong Baudi’ is mentioned, which means that the whole tribe of Zeliang and Rongmei of Nagaland, Manipur and Assam becomes citizens of Nagaland. Seemingly one of the hidden agendas of state government for population migration without territorial integration thus finally exposed,” the NTC said.
While stating that it is the prerogative of the government to establish any institution and designate any name equivalent to that of public undertaking or sector, the council averred that the proposed tribal apex body will also become one such branch under the government statute.
The council further maintained that even if a Nagaland tribal apex body is formed and functioning under the direction of the government, the functioning of non-political and non-governmental organisation of the NTC “will not be deterred howsoever.”