Nagaland: DUCCF seeks accountability, transparency in DMC

The Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) has once again raised concerns over governance, transparency and civic management under the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), particularly in the wake of the recent protest by sanitation workers over unpaid salaries.
Addressing the media at Duncan Council Hall on Saturday, DUCCF leaders said the issues were being raised in public interest to help build a better Dimapur. They said that after nearly two decades of having an elected Urban Local Body, the public had reposed trust in elected councillors, but expressed concern that transparency within the DMC remained inadequate, especially in sanitation, with the town continuing to struggle to maintain cleanliness.
The federation said that earlier, when councillors worked closely with the administration, development progressed smoothly. Emphasising accountability, DUCCF stated that taxes collected from the public must be transparently utilised for public welfare, warning that inefficiency would erode public confidence.
DUCCF president Zasivikho Zakiesato said the issue of unpaid salaries was recurring and stressed that municipal councillors, as guardians of town planning and waste management, must take collective responsibility.
He said ineffective portfolios should be reviewed in the interest of the town.
Clarifying that it was not targeting any individual, DUCCF appealed to the public to pay taxes only against proper receipts bearing the collector’s name and contact details, warning of action against irregularities. With the festive season approaching, it cautioned against unauthorised tax collection and urged transparency in toll and market-related charges.
DUCCF vice-president Tongzuk Pongen said sanitation workers were willing to work even on Sundays with public cooperation. He also raised concerns over proposed drainage projects and reminded councillors of their responsibility to serve public welfare throughout their five-year term, noting that while some councillors were performing well, others appeared to have fallen short of their commitments.
Another vice-president, Wojamo Yanthan, highlighted issues within the DMC, stating that despite sanitation being prioritised initially, salaries of general workers had reportedly been pending for the past five months. He said the public had the right to know why such issues persisted.
The federation also raised concerns over high expenditure during municipal elections, alleging large sums were spent by candidates, and urged the public to introspect, stressing that accountability was a collective responsibility.
Calling Dimapur the “gateway of Nagaland,” DUCCF expressed embarrassment over the town’s condition and stressed the need for collective efforts to improve it. It recalled that the DMC earlier functioned under a CEO system and reiterated that all tax revenues should be deposited into a common account. The forum also opposed the tender system for parking tax collection.
DUCCF vice-president Vikheto Chisho sought transparency in rental income from the DMC building and raised concerns over overstaffing and the absence of a tender process for parking staff, suggesting rotational handling of portfolios by councillors.
The federation concluded that after nearly two decades, systems of checks and balances must be restored and that meaningful growth would require sustained cooperation among elected representatives, the administration and the public.