The adviser to the rural development department of Nagaland, Neikiesalie Nicky Kire, said the Article 371(A) of the Constitution has become a stumbling block to the development process in the state.
The Article 371(A) of the Constitution guarantees protective rights to the Nagas.
“Using the provisions of the Article 371(A), landowners don’t allow government to carry on with developmental activities in their land and seek for higher rates of compensations,” Kire said.
Kire said this while addressing the silver jubilee celebrations of Yimchungrü Union Kohima at Nagaland Baptist Church Council convention hall in Kohima on Saturday, sources said on Sunday.
The MLA rued that while landowners do not allow developmental activities in their land without land compensations but they want the government to look after any damage caused by natural disasters.
“If the Nagas want to protect their land through Article 371(A), they should also take care of the damages caused to their personal property instead of blaming the government for everything,” he said.
Kire stressed that the developmental activities are for the welfare of the public and the landowners should not bring in Article 371(A) as a stumbling block for development and progress.
He also called upon the Nagas to be farsighted.
Also, stating that jobs in the government sector have reached a saturation point, Kire called upon the educated Naga youth to equip themselves to face the challenges of competition.
Maintaining that no job is too low, he asked the Nagas to give serious thought in pursuing skill education, which would make them self-employable instead of acquiring only bookish knowledge.
He also exhorted them to take up sports as a profession as it has become one of the biggest industries and lucrative avenues for self-sustenance.
“Youth should work hard in order to achieve the designed goal,” Kire said.
He further said Kohima, being the capital of the state, is not of the Angami tribe alone but resembles a mini Nagaland with all the Naga tribes migrating there for employment and jobs. The state capital is also is like ‘mini India’ with people from other parts of country working, he added.
Kire stressed the need for better unity among the Nagas by not isolating themselves to their own tribes but having better understanding and coordination with other tribes.