Understanding Local Self Governance in Nagaland

2.            Naga Society and governance in general

Nagaland is known for its myriad tribes with their rich culture and traditions. There are 16 major tribes4 and numerous other sub-tribes that differ from one another in terms of language, customs and traditions or even the systems of governance. Commenting on the unusual nature of the tribes, Verrier Elwin said, ‘Naga society presented a varied pattern of near-dictatorship and extreme democracy.’ For example, there is the autocratic system of the Konyak tribe where there are ‘commoners’ and the powerful Chiefs (Anghs) or the hereditary chieftainship system of the Sema tribe where the chief’s words are considered law. Then there is the kind of ‘republican’ system of governance of the Ao tribe where the citizens of the village have an active role in the affairs of governance, and the government is not headed by a hereditary ruler such as a king or chief but by a council of elders representing the clans and family groups in the village. There also is the ‘extreme democratic’ system of governance of the Angami tribe where the search for consensus was the norm. In almost all the forms of governance the concept of decision making or appointment through adult franchise was unknown.

The traditional self governance of the Nagas in many ways reflects Gandhiji’s article5 on ‘Village Swaraj’ where he envisaged a village as a complete republic, independent of its neighbor for its vital wants, yet interdependent, for many others in which dependence is a necessity. Each Naga Village is like an ‘independent sovereign republic’ where each village own and govern their resources, plan development activities, maintain law and order, deliver justice and secure defense. At the same time the villages forge and maintain diplomatic relationships, as well as, make treaties to share or jointly manage resources in contiguous areas.

3.            Understanding local self governance institutions in Nagaland

The Nagas as a people are homogenous, self-sustaining and very independent with distinct systems of village administration, clan distribution, socio-cultural practices and institutions. The social fabric of Naga society is based on the village and the dominance of its network. For a Naga it is the loyalty to and honor of the family, the clan and the village that comes before and above anything else. The village identity holds supremacy over even the tribal identity and this explains the importance and central role of the village authority or village council in the life of the Nagas.

4 Ao, Angami, Chakhesang, Chang, Konyak, Lotha, Sumi, Kachari, Khiamungiam, Kuki, Phom,
Pochuri, Rengma, Sangtam, Yimchungrü, and Zeliang

5 Harijan. ‘Village Swaraj’. M.K. Gandhi, 26 July 1942

3.1.        The Village Council

The village being an independent democratic republic had its own governance systems and laws. Although women did not have any role in the official functioning of traditional institutions all members of the community were considered equal in status to one another. Given that such functional traditional systems existed in each Naga village, the government built upon it and enacted the Nagaland Village and Area Councils Act 1978 to give it legitimacy and recognition as a local self governance institute.

Every recognized village in Nagaland is required to have a Village Council (VC) with members chosen by villagers in accordance with the prevailing customary practices and usages and as approved by the State Government. Hereditary village chiefs, Anghs and Gaonburas (GB) as per usage and customary practices of the community are to be ex-officio members with voting rights of the Village Councils.

3.1.1    Powers and Functions of the Village Councils

As a procedure, the Village Council chooses a member as Chairman from amongst the members and appoints a Secretary who may or may not be a member of the Council. If the Secretary is not a member of the Council he does not have voting rights. In cases where the Putu Menden6 system is followed, the Chairman is either the Head of the Putu Menden or is nominated from amongst the members by a unanimous decision of the Putu Menden. Interestingly, while the Putu Menden continues to be the supreme authority in the village, the designated Chairman of ‘Village Council’ represents the community in all interactions with the government and other agencies. The Village Council is required to meet at least once every three months or as and when the situation requires. It is also supposed to form the Village Development Board for the overall development of the village.

Box III. Powers and Duties of the Village Council The Village Council has the following powers and duties.

1.              To formulate village development schemes, to supervise proper maintenance of water supply, roads, forest, education and other welfare activities;

2.              To help various govt. agencies in carrying out development works in the village;

3.              To take development works on its own initiative or on request by the government;

4.              To borrow money from the government, Banks or financial institution for application in the development and welfare work of the village and to repay the same with or without interest;

5.              To apply for and receive grant–in–aid, donations, subsidies from the government or any agencies;

 

6.              To provide security for due repayment of loan received by any permanent resident of the village from the government, Banks or financial institutions;

7.              To lend money from its funds to deserving permanent residents of the village and to obtain repayment thereof with or without interest;

8.              To forfeit the security of the individual borrower on his default in repayment of loan advanced to him or on his commission of a breach of any of the terms of loan agreement entered into by him with the council and to dispose of such security by public auction or by private sale;

9.              To enter into any loan agreement with the government, Bank and financial institutions or a permanent resident of the village;

10.           To realize registration fee for each litigation within its jurisdiction;

6 See 3.2 of this document

11.           To raise fund for utility service within the village by passing a resolution subject to the approval of the state government; provided that all monetary transactions shall be conducted through a scheduled Bank or the Nagaland state Co-operative Bank;

12.           To constitute Village Development Board;

13.           Power to do certain acts on the event of epidemic. On the outbreak of an epidemic or infectious disease Village Council shall initiate all preventive measure.