SL Z Sangtam
The Kiphire District has a population of 101432 (one lakh one thousand four hundred and thirty two – 94718+6714 [Kuisam population]) according to 2001 census. It has two Assembly seats i.e. 59 A/C and 60 A/C in the state legislature. It comprises of three administrative blocks, namely Kiphire District Hq (Sadar) under the Deputy Commissioner, Seyochung under SDO (Civil) and Pungro under the SDO (Civil). Which are further divided into the following administrative circles headed by Extra Addl Commissioners, namely Amahator circle, Kuisam circle (this circle falls under 57A/C in Elections), Sitimi (Singti) circle and Longmatra circle. The population break up of the administrative blocks under Kiphire District is as follows: Kiphire Sadar – 18,094, Seyochung – 20,867, Amahator – 11,836, Longmatra – 8,100, Sitimi (singti) – 11,746, Pungro – 24,075 and Kuisam – 6714. The 2 (two) Assembly Constituencies namely 59th Seyochung–Sitimi (singti) A/C and 60th Kiphire–Pungro A/C under the Kiphire District has voters according to Electoral Roll of 2003 general Election is 20222 and 27532 thousands respectively.
That the District of Kiphire can be allotted 4 (four) Assembly constituencies in the state Legislature of Nagaland, namely: (i) Kiphire–Pungro A/C (ii) Seyochung–Sitimi A/C (iii) Amahator A/C and (iv) Saramati (which may include Kuisam area) A/C. The “names” of the constituencies can be re-named, if more appropriate name is suggested.
There is no reason why Kiphire District cannot be allotted 2 more seats by the present “Delimitation Commission.” If the TRUE population is the only criteria for the allotment of seats, then the Commission should constitute a separate body to count the real Naga voters in all the constituencies.
A “Tri-Party Survey Commission” should be set up, comprising of the tribal representatives from all the Naga tribes of Nagaland, representatives from the Delimitation Commission and the Election Commission of India. This Tri-Party Survey will then conduct a joint “head count” (other scientific methods like finger printing also can be resorted to) of all the Naga Population and Voters in various Assembly Constituencies in Nagaland. And strictly based on the results from this impartial “Head Count” and the “Scientific Finger Printings” by the “Tri-Party Commission” only, the Constituencies should be allotted to various districts.
There is no reason why any district or community should object to fresh Electoral Roll and Population Survey of all the Naga Tribes for “Fair and Just” allotment of the constituencies and thus representations in the State Legislature, unless they have something to hide from the other fellow Naga brethrens.
The Assembly Constituencies, which are in effect at present in Nagaland had been done without proper collection of Electoral Rolls in the 1950’s, 1960’s and in the subsequent Electoral Rolls by the government of Assam, in the then Naga hills and in the new state of Nagaland by the govt of Nagaland. Thus, the very foundation of the Electoral Roll in the Nagaland (in the Naga Hills) was based on the incorrect population survey of tribesmen leading to erroneous numbers of voters. All the subsequent Electoral Rolls thereafter are further projections of growth from the initial incorrect population survey and voter’s Roll.
When “Elections System” came to Naga District under Assam, the apathetic Election Commission gave a free hand to officials working in the Naga district, who in turn depended on few Naga officials then in the Govt service. After gaining of the statehood of Nagaland, the allotment of constituencies in the districts of Naga Hills was done without proper population and voters’ survey to increase their own community/tribe/district’s representation in the Legislative by some Naga Officials. Since, the “Tuensang district” had a “Regional Council” system of governance, which in turn nominated its representatives to the Nagaland State Legislature, therefore, was left out in the initial allotments of constituencies. After the abolition of the “Regional Council” in Tuensang Area, allotment of “Assembly Constituencies” in the new district of Tuensang was done without proper voters and population survey to decrease proper representation by the Tuensang tribesmen (unchecked by Tuensang leaders due to lack of education and thus understanding). This is a fact no one can deny and hence, the present possibility of “Delimitation” in Nagaland going in the same undemocratic style, is not acceptable to the public of Kiphire district.
The old districts and the Commercial hub Dimapur has all government department Head Offices, Govt Colleges (arts, science, ITI’s), University Campuses and other Govt Training Institutes, Hospitals and Nursing colleges and even the NAP/IRB battalion headquarters etc, which should also be distributed to other districts. And the majority of government employees and private entrepreneurs in the above mention belong mostly to Naga communities which also hail from same few districts or the commercial hub Dimapur. Thus, these people constitute the voters in their native villages as well as in their district headquarters as well as in their places of work, which are mostly located within their own districts – leading to increase in the voters. This is a fact which is verifiable through the Employment Data of the districts and Electoral Rolls.
Whereas the situation in the Kiphire district is just the opposite as almost all the population are living off the land as marginal farmers in their own native villages. This is due to the absence of adequate government departments, employments, transportations, communications, and Educational qualifications which may be attributed to inadequate government Schools, Higher Secondary Schools, colleges and govt sponsored Seminars to create awareness – comparison can be studied from the districts data. As one is unemployed or economically not well off, one can neither settle down in the Sub divisional headquarter District headquarter nor afford to buy a house nor set up private businesses in sub-division or in the district headquarter (the Vicious Circle of Poverty). The lack of industries, government academic/training Institutes, Tourism, Transportation, non-activation of international trade centre (Mimi) etc does not encourage the non-local workers or professionals from outside the state also to settle in Kiphire district. All these have a direct relationship with population and voters. Thus, the number of voters in the district of Kiphire and in other unfortunate districts/sub divisions are almost indigenous people.
The voters in Kiphire district are all real and almost all indigenous Nagas (except a handful of outsider-shopkeepers) unlike some districts, where about 20 to 50% of voters are outsiders-government servants, business community, manual workers, private Institution employees etc. These workers in the government offices and industries and other private undertakings, double or treble up the registered voters in such constituencies. Whereas in Kiphire, where even fellow Naga officers and govt employees only make flying visits, because of lack of development, there is no business community or private institution flourishing.
Therefore, since the figures of Voter and Population of Kiphire are not inflated, the district, instead of increase of 1 (one) A/C as the present “Delimitation Commission”, is eligible for 2 (two) more A/C’s in Naga-Land.
The principle of democracy, justice and people responsibilities cannot be suppressed in allotment of “Constituencies” in Nagaland to conduct Elections to uphold the very same principle, i.e. Democracy, Justice and Peoples Power and people’s responsibility. The outcome of “boycott” and further “events developing thereafter” will only show to the world the sham of the Naga society and Indian democracy. Therefore, the “Delimitation Commission” or any other government body or individual should not oppose “Free, Fair and Just” judgments by a neutral body. The “Just” representations in the Legislature will only usher in more unity because of economic-human developments and strengthening the tradition of democracy that the Nagas are proud of, since time immemorial.
