Is the Stage Set For the Creation of the Frontier Nagaland Territory in the State?

The Nagaland government appealed to the ENPO to extend its October 31st deadline for submission of recommendations to the Centre.

Is the Stage Set For the Creation of the Frontier Nagaland Territory in the State? Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio-led state cabinet will soon make recommendations to the Centre on the draft Memorandum of Settlement with the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation or the ENPO.

Following a crucial cabinet meeting in Kohima today, Minister KG Kenye, who is also the government spokesperson, announced that the Neiphiu Rio government has more or less endorsed the entire draft proposal on Frontier Nagaland Territory and is ready to recommend it to the Centre.

However, Kenye added that the draft proposal still requires a final touch and there is no timeframe to submit the comments yet.

The Nagaland government appealed to the ENPO to extend its October 31st deadline for submission of recommendations to the Centre. The government spokesperson said that the ENPO has agreed to the request.
Significantly, Kenye said that there will be no bifurcation of any department under the new arrangement.

Kenye added that the proposal for 40 elected members and a few Governor-nominated members for the Frontier Nagaland Territory Administration is being considered by the Government.
Significantly, Kenye said that there cannot be a strict timeframe for the release of funds for FNT as funds come from the Centre.

Well, as per the draft MOS with ENPO, there will be no separate state, Union territory or 6th Schedule Council and the spirit of Article 371A and the state government’s recommendation for an Autonomous Council or authority will be maintained. Besides, there will be functional coordination between the proposed FNT set-up and the State government and district administration. Significantly, the draft MOS says that the new set-up will have no impact on Naga Talks.

Six Eastern districts of Nagaland will be part of the Frontier Nagaland Territory.

The draft MOS proposes the new administrative set-up to be known as Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority which will be constituted under Article 371-A. As per government sources, the FNTA is proposed to have a total of 42 members of which 40 will be elected and 2 nominated by the Governor. The Executive Council of the new set-up will have 9 members including CEM and Deputy CEM.

The Governor will make the rules for the first constitution of FNTA which will have legislative, executive and financial powers. The MOS draft says that the laws, rules and regulations made by the FNTA will come into effect only after the assent of the Governor and publication in the State Gazette. As per the draft proposal, the Governor will allocate funds from the state budget keeping in view the population, area, backwardness and topography of FNT.

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