In a big development for the people of Eastern Nagaland, the Government of India and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) has come to certain terms with a “unique arrangement” on the long standing ENPO issue of a separate statehood.
Sources from the ENPO revealed that the GoI and ENPO has agreed for creation of a separate administration and the new administrative structure may be called ‘Frontier Naga Territory’.
The ENPO has certainly narrowed down many of their demands as their goal was for a separate statehood – Frontier Nagaland which was rejected by the GoI. Mention may also be made that in 2011, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had also recommended for creation of an autonomous council for the Eastern region however, this recommendation was rejected by ENPO.
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The proposed administrative arrangement will have 40 elected members and nine nominated members, the source informed adding that, the administrative arrangement will have legislative, executive and financial autonomy.
Sources claimed that the GoI has also agreed to bring 45 departments under the new administrative structure and a separate secretariat will be established in the Eastern region. Further, an additional Director General of Police will be appointed exclusively for the new autonomous territory.
Further, sources said that as soon as the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) is signed, an interim body will be constituted for one year.
There have been hectic parleys this month between the ENPO and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). At the invitation of the MHA, a 12 member ENPO delegation led by its president Tsapikiu Sangtam held talks with Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on June 16. The delegation also met interlocutor and special adviser MHA, AK Mishra on June 17.
Sources added that there are still some loose ends that need to be looked into before a final meeting is held.
The ENPO will be holding talks with the centre very soon and dates for signing the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) is likely to be announced after their meet, if at all the meeting is positive.
Meanwhile, Nagaland government has also convened a consultative meet in State Banquet Hall, Kohima to discuss on the Centre’s proposal to ENPO.
