As a bonafide Naga and citizen of Dimapur by birth, I would like to share my humble opinion on the current topic of ‘Naga Commission’ and the Naga Council Dimapur for public consumption.
As I have observed all these while, the Naga Council Dimapur is a unique and distinct entity which canot be categorized with any other Unions or NGO’s that we came across an instance where the Naga Council Dimapur had acted against the interest and welfare of the public of Dimapur or against any Government ever since the attainment of statehood. As a matter of fact, ever since its inception in the year 1949, the Naga Council Dimapur has stood for peace and harmony and played a unifying role for all communities in Dimapur. On the other hand, the Naga Council Dimapur should be anything but grateful to the successive Governments for having issued permits after permits in its favour for over 30 (thirty) years and for allowing it to collect a titular royalty in the form of Naga Commission on specified items. The order dated 13th July 2010 issued by the Dimapur District Administration is certainly a routine extension of such a permit and not for the first.
So far as my knowledge goes, the Naga Council Dimapur has never violated ay order or directive by the government. Whatsoever has been done so far by the Naga Council Dimapur vis-à-vis the collection of the Naga Commission, has been done by virtue of the permits duly issued by the District Administration. Therefore, cautioning to take action on the Naga Council Dimapur by the Government, for violation of it’s orders and directives, is found to be ridiculous and unjustified. If at all any action is to be contemplated against anybody, why should the government not direct its indignation on the concerned officers, past or present, who had issued the permits, since the last over 30 years, in the first place! Its is apparent that, on its part, the Naga Council Dimapur had acted only on the authority derived from the orders and permits issued by the District Administration that represents the government! A misconception about the Naga Council’s role and status has obviously been circulated by vested interests in exact the opposite of what the Naga Council has been doing i.e, rendering philanthropic and voluntary services to all people of Dimapur since its inception. By virtue of its existence, it will be more appropriate to take Naga Council Dimapur as a unique Naga Tribal Institution and not a mere NGO.
Z.V. Angami, Kuda Village ‘B’ Khel, Dimapur
