Kohima, March 26 Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton introduced a Bill in the Assembly on Thursday to establish the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority, an interim administrative body for the eastern districts.
While no details were provided on its provisions, Speaker Sharingain Longkumer said consideration and passage of the Bill would be taken up on Friday.
Highlighting the development while presenting the state Budget, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio congratulated the people of the eastern districts on signing the memorandum of agreement (MoA) for the establishment of the FNTA.
He also expressed “deep gratitude” to the Union government and all stakeholders in the state for making this historic agreement possible.
"This agreement reflects the government’s sustained commitment to increased participation in governance and achieving measurable outcomes for our people in the eastern districts while addressing the aspirations of all citizens of the state," Rio said.
The chief minister said the state government has been working earnestly to expedite the process for the formation of the FNTA interim body and therefore tabled the Bill.
He announced a grant of Rs 100.57 crore for the FNTA, describing it as a proportional allocation from the state’s divisible development fund after accounting for statewide obligations.
A memorandum of agreement (MoA) was signed on February 5 between the government of India, the state government and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), paving the way for the formation of the FNTA.
He explained that the tabling of the Bill was slightly delayed due to the late presentation of the state Budget. "According to the agreement, we are required to hold consultations with the Centre. We have written to the Union home secretary seeking consultation," Rio said.
The CM said the Bill was drafted by the state’s law and justice department, incorporating provisions of the MoA, and was finalised based on the advice of the Advocate General.
Although the Centre had not formally responded to the state’s communication, Rio said the government proceeded with tabling the Bill in keeping with its commitment to ENPO.
"We had assured ENPO that we would present the Bill and move towards its passage in the current session. Accordingly, the Bill has been introduced in the House by Deputy Chief Minister Patton, and it will be taken up for discussion and passing tomorrow," he said.
The development assumes significance in the context of long-standing demands from the six eastern districts of Nagaland under the banner of ENPO for a separate administrative arrangement to address concerns of neglect and underdevelopment.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) has appealed to the state government to strictly uphold the MoA while passing the FNTA Bill.
In a representation to Rio, ENPO acknowledged the introduction of the FNTA Bill in the Assembly, but expressed concern that certain provisions of the MoA may have been "omitted or altered" in the Bill.
"We appreciate the state government for introducing the FNTA Bill on the floor of the Assembly. However, it appears that some contents of the MoA signed between the Centre, state government and ENPO on February 5 in New Delhi were found to have been omitted/changed," stated the ENPO representation.
ENPO, the apex organisation of tribal bodies spread over the six eastern districts of Nagaland, urged the government to review the contents of the Bill and ensure that all provisions of the MoA are fully reflected "without any dilution" before its passage.