It is in the knowledge of everybody that, the Eastern Naga Public Organization (ENPO) had submitted a MEMORANDUM to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India/Home Minister of India and to all the Political Leaders in India demanding separate Statehood for Eastern Nagas. On this issue, many reactions had appeared in all Local Newspapers for quite sometime with different views. On this issue, I want to express my Personal Views/Observations for public Consumption with the following reasons. First of all, it is better to differentiate between Statehood demands made by the other Organizations like Karbi Anglong, Darjeeling and Telangana etc. and ENPO demand. ENPO demand is very simple and the demand is just to revive/restore back the erstwhile Tuensang Division of the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) which has been merged with Present Nagaland while the 16th Point Agreement was signed between the Govt of India and the Naga People’s Convention (NPC) which is known to everybody and need not elaborate on this. When the Nagaland State was Created, Special Provisions was given to the State in Indian Constitution under Article 371A with special provisions for Tuensang Administration for a period of ten years and still it exist in Indian Constitution. Under the Provision of Article 371A(2)(b), it is clearly written, “WHERE ANY MONEY IS PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA TO THE GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE OF NAGALAND AS A WHOLE, THE GOVERNOR SHALL IN HIS DISCRETION ARRANGE FOR A EQUITABLE ALLOCATION OF THAT MONEY BETWEEN THE TUENSANG DISTRICT AND THE REST OF THE STATE”. Now the question lies here is whether any successive Governments in the State had ever applied this given Provision in letter and spirit. Therefore, it needs serious study where it went wrong. According to my knowledge, it had never been applied and that’s why ENPO areas have been kept under Backwardness. Moreover, to my understanding, it is not the time to blame the present Government nor the successive Governments because ENPO problem is many years hand made accumulated problem and it has become a Chronic disease which cannot be cured by any Political Party(s) that come to power or in power. Rather now, Nagas should come up with open support to the ENPO demand with Financial/Material/Physical/Prayer and moral support in order to have 2(Two) States within Naga Areas. I also appreciate the State Cabinet for acknowledging the ENPO’s Problem by constituting the Fact Finding Committee and Cabinet Sub-Committee to have in-depth studies of the problems faced by the ENPO people. But my question is, why the State Govt had recommended for a District Autonomous Council instead of recommending for Separate Statehood. At least up to some extend we know the Rules and Functions of the Autonomous Council. It is high time for the general Public/Leaders and all social Organizations to differentiate between the Naga Political issue and the Statehood demand and it should not be mixed up in any manner. Naga Political issue is age old demand to have Independence which has been started even before India attend Independence and this will continue till any solution is brought about.
But Statehood demand is just to uplift the Economic Conditions of the ENPO areas in order to cope up with the other advance Areas/Tribes in all fronts and to start with equal position without interference from any quarter. Lastly, blame has to be shared equally by every one of us for all the failures. In all the Governments either Regional or National, there were Ministers/MLAs even Tuensang Affairs Minister from the ENPO area also and participated in Policy making including Job Reservations and many others. But the main cause leading to present situation is not by the policy makers but it was and is by the implementing agencies. Let me cite one small example to have a clear ample knowledge by the common people. Any vacancy arising in any Department in ENPO areas including Peons/Chowkiders/LDAs and Typists were filled up or appointed by the concerned appointing authorities by their own men/women even ignoring the recommendations of the Elected Members from the ENPO areas. That’s how employment has been exacerbated by the advance tribes in the ENPO areas. Now that, the Government of India has banned the post creation in Nagaland and therefore, there is no way for the educated unemployed Youth from the ENPO area except to take more interest on Statehood demand for their future survival. .
Given my Personal views/Observations on Statehood demand, I appeal to all right thinking Nagas to support the ENPO demand to expand the WING OF NAGAS.
W.Wangyuh Konyak
Former Member Parliament Lok Sabha
But Statehood demand is just to uplift the Economic Conditions of the ENPO areas in order to cope up with the other advance Areas/Tribes in all fronts and to start with equal position without interference from any quarter. Lastly, blame has to be shared equally by every one of us for all the failures. In all the Governments either Regional or National, there were Ministers/MLAs even Tuensang Affairs Minister from the ENPO area also and participated in Policy making including Job Reservations and many others. But the main cause leading to present situation is not by the policy makers but it was and is by the implementing agencies. Let me cite one small example to have a clear ample knowledge by the common people. Any vacancy arising in any Department in ENPO areas including Peons/Chowkiders/LDAs and Typists were filled up or appointed by the concerned appointing authorities by their own men/women even ignoring the recommendations of the Elected Members from the ENPO areas. That’s how employment has been exacerbated by the advance tribes in the ENPO areas. Now that, the Government of India has banned the post creation in Nagaland and therefore, there is no way for the educated unemployed Youth from the ENPO area except to take more interest on Statehood demand for their future survival. .
Given my Personal views/Observations on Statehood demand, I appeal to all right thinking Nagas to support the ENPO demand to expand the WING OF NAGAS.
W.Wangyuh Konyak
Former Member Parliament Lok Sabha
