Appreciating the state government for repealing the Nagaland Municipal (NM) Act 2001 in the recently-concluded Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) session, three urban local bodies however appealed to the government to draft its own Act without copy pasting from any other State.
“We also would like to remind the government to sincerely draft our own Act without copy pasting from any other Municipals or Corporations of other states taking into consideration of our rights wherein the land in Nagaland belongs to the people unlike the land holding system in other states,” presidents of Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation Zasivikho Zakiesato, Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat Thejao Sekhose and All Ward Union Mokokchung Town Limanungsang stated.
They also appealed to the government to include experts from various fields, particularly keeping in mind to protect people’s rights without any infringement upon Article 371A.
The three organizations, along with the town councils of Nagaland, recalled that they had conveyed their concern to the government over certain provisions in the Act and called for certain changes on numerous occasions to protect rights of people duly protected under Article 371A of the Constitution of India.
Further, they appealed to the government to take into consideration social customs and traditional practices of Nagas whenever a new Act was drafted since the State was empowered by the 74th Amendment of the Constitution of India whereby the State could frame its own rules and regulations according to its own applicability and practicability.
They said the government, repealing NMA in the very first session of the 14th Assembly, was a feat in itself that ought to be saluted by all right-thinking citizens.
The organizations also appealed to the government to expedite the process of framing the new municipal Act so as to let the citizens elect their leaders in their wards to truly bring transformation.
‘Hold consultations before framing new Act’
Welcoming the 14th Assembly’s unanimous resolution to repeal to the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 and heeding to the wishes of the people, the Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) has appealed to the government to hold consultations with all stakeholders and take their opinions before “rewriting” the NM Act.
In a press note, NCD vice-president (Adm) Holuto Aye and general secretary LK Peter Anal said that Nagas viewed unequivocally that the NM Act was politically and constitutionally undermining Naga customary law and practices in all aspects.
Therefore, they said all sections of the society made a stand firm to oppose the urban local body (ULB) elections tooth and nail.
NCD said it was apprehensive of another ugly situation worse than the unrest in 2017 if the State government had failed to listen to the voice of the people.
Meanwhile, NCD appreciated the exceptional wisdom of NLA in adopting a unanimous resolution to repeal the Act to the satisfaction of Nagas as whole and hoped that peace and tranquillity would prevail at all times in the State.