Dimapur-based civil society organisations including Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD), GB’s Sadar Union, Dimapur Urban Council Chairman Federation (DUCCF) and Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) under the banner of Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) have resolved to declare “null and void” the resolution passed by Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) general meeting on June 22, 2019.
In a joint statement, five apex civil society groups said the decision to declare the resolution ‘null and void’ was taken at the coordination meeting held at Naga Council Office, on June 28, 2019. At the meeting, the five CSOs said they seriously deliberated at length that “Naga people cannot accept any arbitrary law/resolution passed by DCCI where 90% of DCCI office is managing by non-locals which they are not supposed to overrule in our Naga Soil.”
On the confusion over DCCI general meeting resolution, the CSOs stated that the issue has been dragged and distorted by vested interest without even looking into the origin/background of what NCD really was as an organization.
They said it was “indeed a discouragement” that citizens/some leaders were poorly versed with activities of NCD and other civil society groups. They said those benefited from the sacrificial service of NCD for decades and those who have been witness to the many yeomen deeds of NCD chose to remain a mute spectator “watching the unfair drama unfolded by vested interest with hidden designs to destabilize the effectiveness of the organization.”
CSOs said Nagas have, since creation of NCD in 1949 by dedicated and farsighted pioneers, never been able to create another better organization than NCD, which has “invested so much voluntary service into the affairs of public/administration/government”.
According to CSOs, some couple of years back there were reportedly more than 106 unions and organization in Dimapur with or without permit, though some genuine and noble-cause organizations were listed in the count.
They stated that 50% of those unions have dubious motives to harass public and business community by extracting funds on any pretext. Neither any individual, churches or organization nor the government took courage to voice against the proliferation of unions and their illegal extraction, they said. However, the CSOs said it was Naga tribal leaders under the banner of NCD who stood up against proliferation of unions both in voice and writing. “None of those who wake up to the menace of illegal collection today are aware of what Naga Council has been doing against corruption and this menace in the past two decades,” they maintained.
The signatories included NCD president Bangerloba, gen. secretary Thsapongkyu Sangtam; NWHD president Sungsabeni, gen. secretary Elis Z Swu; GBs (Sadar) Union president MY Ngullie, gen. secretary W Kholie Kapfo; DUCCF president Tsenthungo, gen. secretary Mughato L Yeptho, DNSU president Sedevilie Angami and gen. secretary B Mhajan Tsopoe.