Tribal hohos, NFHRCC oppose exclusion from Foothills talks

A consultative meeting involving Dimapur-based tribal hohos, the Young Naga Action Committee on Foothills Road, and Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) was held on August 14 in Dimapur, to deliberate on the Trans Nagaland Highway (Foothills Road) project.
The house unanimously opposed the alleged move by the state government to exclude six Naga tribes– Chang, Khiamniungan, Rengma, Sangtam, Tikhir, and Yimkhiung- as well as NFHRCC from further consultations on the project. In a joint statement, NFHRCC convenor Supu Jamir and general secretary Chenithung Humtsoe reaffirmed that the six tribes and the Committee have been instrumental in advocating for the Foothills Road connectivity since its inception in 2013.
The house also resolved that any future decision concerning the highway must include the participation of all 45 MLAs and NFHRCC. The committee said that the 15 Nagaland tribes would not accept any process that sidelines their elected representatives or treats them as secondary stakeholders.
On the issue of No Objection Certificates (NOC) for a 30-meter-wide Right of Way along the proposed stretch from Tizit to Khelma, the committee stated that no NOC would be issued without proper consultation with all apex tribal hohos and the NFHRCC in a transparent and inclusive manner.