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Dimapur, Dec. 13 (EMN): Former chief minister and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairman, TR Zeliang, on Tuesday said village councils (VCs) play an important role in upholding the customary laws and practices, which the Constitution of India has empowered the Naga people under the provision of Article 371 (A).
“In our village democratic set-up, village council is the final authority and no other authority can interfere in our customary functioning system,” the UDA chairman said.
Zeliang was speaking at the inaugural programme of village council hall, New Jalukie village, constructed under LADF Iconic Project Scheme, in the presence of village council members and other invitees. The village was established in 1951 and recognised by the state government in 1971.
Stressing on the importance of customary practices, he called upon the people to “improvise the power and function of village councils by creating village council rules and regulation based on customary practices.”
Maintaining that many cases like theft, murder and divorce cases can be solved through customary laws, Zeliang expressed confidence that litigation would not be necessary if there was an established customary law in place.
While calling upon the New Jalukie Village Council to put the functioning system of customary laws in place so that “a peaceful village and a peaceful society” is established, the UDA chairman reasoned that “our land will become a land of peace if customary laws are in place.”
Quoting the Chinese proverb that “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” the veteran leader called upon the village to initiate the first step in improving the existing system for common good of the society at large.
He also congratulated the villagers for timely completion of the project and judicious utilisation of the fund sanctioned
Referring to New Jalukie as a “Mini Township”, the former chief minister said New Jalukie Village was selected for the iconic project as the village was a fast-growing habitation and had a lot of potentials to be at par with small towns.
The inauguration program was moderated by Aphun Gonmei and Keyipeule, president and Education & Statistics secretary of New Jalukie Students Union (NJSU), respectively.
Earlier, chairman of New Jalukie Pastors’ Union, TR Khamsinlung, invoked God’s blessing while welcome speech was delivered by chairman of New Jalukie Village, Liangkebo, an update informed.