The proposal by the state government to change the nomenclature of Gaon Burrah (GB) including its role in urban or rural areas has drawn strong opposition from Sumi Kukami Hoho (SKH), Kiphire District GBs Association (KDGBA), Longleng District GB Association (LDGBA), Wokha District GB Association (WDGBA) and the GBs’ Union Wokha Town (GBUWT).
SKH president H Kashito Yepthomi and general secretary Hetoho S Zhimomi, in a representation submitted to the governor through DC Zunheboto, pointed out that since the period of British rule, the name GB was used for the sake of convenience, though socially, in Sumi dialect they are referred to as Kukami/Akukau under Sumi jurisdiction. The hoho also pointed out that a non-Sumi was not allowed to hold the post of Akukau both in urban and rural.
SKH, therefore, urged upon the state government not to change the nomenclature of GBs in Urban area. It also urged the state government to accord some power and function criteria to urban GBs for smooth functioning under district administration since the tenure of town GBs were also limited.
KDGBA: Kiphire District GBs Association (KDGBA) president Yamishe Yeptho and general secretary T Chorise Sangtam, in a representation submitted to the governor through DC Kiphire, pointed out that Kiphire district was the home of three recognized tribes of Nagaland—Sangtam, Sema (Sumi) and Yimchunger—and each of tribe had at least one GB in town under the district.
KDGBA said that GBs act as the channel of peace amongst the tribes/citizens of the district besides settling disputes and differences pertaining to the customs and traditions of the said tribes/citizens under the district. The association also said that GBs in towns were appointment by the government to handle the law and order situation pertaining to customs and traditional practices and help the smooth functioning of the administration.
Asserting that Naga peace talk were in progress and anticipating honourable and acceptable final settlement, the association has, therefore, urged the government to keep in abeyance the proposal till the Naga peace talk arrived at final settlement.
LDGBA: Longleng District GB Association (LDGBA) president T Yüngie Phom and general secretary Chingpü Phom, in a representation submitted to the chief minister through DC Longleng, pointed out that the existence, role, powers and function of the GB in the Naga soil was “time immemorial and well established age-old custodian of the Naga customary practice.”
The association said that the state government’s move would dilute the existence of the GB across the state and “eventually lead to degrade struggling for survival of the status and practice of the customary system.” The association has, therefore, appealed the chief minister to recall the proposal.
WDGBA, GBUWT: Wokha District Gaon Bura Association (WDGBA) and GBs Union Wokha Town (GBUWT) have affirmed total opposition to any proposal to change the nomenclature of GB role both in Urban and Rural areas.
In a joint statement, WDGBA president P Nzanbemo Tungoe, general secretary Aremo Ezung, GBUWT chairman Khumkhothung Lotha and general secretary Santsuthung Kikon also said that GBs of Wokha district had been custodians of Naga Customary laws, traditions and practices for many decades and the institution was maintaining the discipline till date.
The two bodies have, therefore, urged the government of India and the state government “to value the institution and strengthen each other till the Naga Political issue is settled.”