TR Zeliang with dignitaries and Village Council Members of New Jalukie Village on December 13.
Dimapur, December 13 (MExN): The Village Council Hall of New Jalukie Village constructed under LADF Iconic Project Scheme was inaugurated by UDA Chairperson TR Zeliang in the presence of village council members and dignitaries on Tuesday.
New Jalukie Village was established in 1951 and recognised by the Government in 1971, according to a press release.
Gracing the programme as special guest, Zeliang also emphasised on the role and significance of Village Councils. In the context of Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India, Zeliang said that Village Councils play an important role in upholding the customary laws and practices as empowered by the Constitution. ‘In our Village democratic set-up, Village Council is the final authority and no other authority can interfere in our customary functioning system,’ the release quoted him as saying.
Also stressing on the importance of customary practices, he called upon the people to ‘improvise the power and function of Village Councils by creating Village Council Rules and Regulation based on customary practices.’ Maintaining that many cases can be solved through customary laws, Zeliang expressed confidence that litigation would not be necessary ‘if there was an established customary law in place.’
Toward this end, he called upon the New Jalukie Village Council to put the functioning system of customary laws in place so that ‘a peaceful Village and a peaceful society’ is established, while maintaining that ‘Our land will become a land of peace if customary laws are in place.’
Quoting the proverb ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,’ he called upon the Village to initiate the first step in improving the existing system for common good of the society at large, the release stated.
Zeliang meanwhile, expressed contentment that the project was completed on time and congratulated the Villagers for judicious utilisation of funds. Stating that New Jalukie is similar to a ‘Mini Township,’ the former Chief Minister said that New Jalukie Village was selected for the iconic project as the village was a fast-growing habitation and had a lot of potential to be at par even with small towns.
