Meeting on forming Eastern Nagaland autonomous council to be held on June 30

The notice issued by the state home department calling for the meeting states that the consultative meeting will be on “the provisions of the proposed proposal of the Government of India for constitution of an Autonomous Council for the six eastern districts of the state, namely, Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Shamator and Noklak”.

These six districts are home to members of seven tribes—Konyak, Khiamniungan, Chang, Sangtam, Tikhir, Phom and Yimkhiung—and account for more than 30 per cent of the state’s population. They also account for 20 of the 60 seats in the Assembly.

The MLAs of these constituencies have been asked to attend the meeting, along with representatives of tribal organisations Central Nagaland Tribes Council, Tenyimii People’s Organization, Angami Public Organization, Ao Senden, Chakhesang Public Organization, and Naga Garo Tribal Organization.

The demand for autonomy for the Eastern Nagaland districts in the form of a separate state called Frontier Nagaland has been a long-standing one, which gained momentum in 2020.

This demand had been spearheaded by the influential Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) and since last year, it has had several rounds of meetings with the Union Home Ministry. According to a source who has been a part of these meetings, the discussion between the body and the Union government has been along the lines of a ‘Frontier Naga Territory’ within the state of Nagaland with a separate legislature, and executive and financial powers.

“We are surprised that the state government has not invited the ENPO to be a part of this consultative meeting when the negotiations have been happening so far between the ENPO and the Union government,” said a member of the organisation.

The ENPO submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Office in November 2010 demanding a separate state with special status and provisions owing to a “development deficit” in the region. The lack of development in the region has continued to be the driving force behind the demand for a separate state.

However, this demand took centre stage ahead of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly elections this year. In August 2022, the ENPO passed a resolution to abstain from participating in the polls unless the demand is met. In February this year, it announced that it had decided to withdraw its boycott call based on an assurance that “a solution as mutually agreed will be reached after following the due process and will be implemented after completion of the election process”.

During the elections, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), BJP and the Congress all promised in their manifestos to set up special funds and schemes for focused development of the region and ENPO president Tsapikiu Sangtam shared the stage with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and CM Rio during their joint campaign for NDPP-BJP candidates contesting from Mon district.