Nagaland has 1144 recognized villages

Fruit of their labour

 Village Councils: traditional institutions in Democratic decentralization.

Every Naga village has been an autonomous independent republic with the village chief as its head to look after the affair of the village. Therefore based on this model local self governments were organized integrating the existing indigenous institution into the process of democratic decentralizations under the banner of Village Council. This Village Council’s were established in every recognized village according to the usage and customary practices of the population of the area. It consists of members, chosen by villagers in accordance with the prevailing customary practices and usages as approved by the State Government. Hereditary village chiefs shall be ex-officio members of such Councils, with voting rights. The Village Council chooses a Member as Chairman and can select and appoint a Secretary who may or may not be a member of the Council. If the Secretary is not a member of the Council he does not have voting rights. The Village Council is required to meet at least once every three months. It is the job of the village council to formulate village development schemes, to supervise proper maintenance of water supply, roads, forest, education and other welfare activities to help Government agencies in carrying out development works in the village and to take up development works on its own initiative or on request by the Government. The village council also has the power to borrow money from various sources such as the Government, Banks or financial institutions, to apply for and receive grant-in-aid, donations, subsidies from the Government or any agencies and to raise fund for utility services within the village by passing a resolution subject to the approval by the State Government. However, all monetary transactions are required to be conducted through a scheduled bank or the Nagaland State Cooperative Bank.

The Village Council also has the power to administer justice within the village limits in accordance with the customary law and usages and has full powers to deal with internal administration of the village. The Village Council is subject to the Central Superintendence of the State Government/ Deputy Commissioner / Additional Deputy Commissioner or Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) in-charge of the Sub-Division, Extra Assistant Commissioner or Circle Officer.

A Bunyan tree at Mekokla Village

The 13th Constitutional Amendment 1962, Article 371-A provide that no Act of Parliament in respect of religious or social practices of the Nagas, Naga Customary Law and Procedure, Administration of Civil and Criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga Customary Law and ownership and transfer of land and its resources would apply to the State, without approval from the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland. There is a provision for establishment of regional Council for the Tuensang district with a Deputy Commissioner as the chairman ex-officio of the Regional Council. The Vice-Chairman is required to be elected by the Members of the Regional Council from among themselves.  There is a further provision that the Administration of the Tuensang district shall be carried on by the Governor and he shall have the discretion to arrange for equitable allocation of money between the Tuensang district and the rest of the State from the money provided by the Governor to the Government of Nagaland for the State as a whole.  No Act of Legislature of Nagaland can apply to the Tuensang district unless the Governor, on the recommendation of the Regional Council so directs.

Decentralised Planning of Nagaland

Nagaland emerged as a State, carved out of the Naga Hills districts of Assam and North Eastern Frontier Agency (NEFA) province in 1963. The State has a population of 19.80,602 lakhs with an area of 16.579 Sq. kms as per 2011 census. The population of Nagaland forms 0.16 percent of India in 2011. The State Govt. has recently created another 22 (twenty two) new Rural Development blocks which are to be functional with effect from 1st April, 2012. Now the total number of RD Block has increased from 52 to 74 Blocks. There are 1144 recognised villages with Village Development Boards (VDBs) with 2, 24,915 rural household in the State.


The density of population is 119 per sq.km. Nagaland has a Rural population of 14,06,861 which constitutes 71.03% and urban population of 5,73,741 which constitutes 28.97% of the total. Overall literacy ratio is 80.11% in 2011.


List of Rural Development Blocks in Nagaland during 2012-2013
Kohima District
1. Kohima
2. Tseminyu
3. Chiephobozou
4. Jakhama
5. Sechu-Zubza
6. Botsa
7. Chunlikha
Mokokchung District
8. Longchem
9. Changtongya
10. Mangkolemba
11. Ongpangkong (S)
12.  Kubolong
13. Ongpangkong (N)
14. Chuchuyimlang
15. Tuli
16. Tsurangkong
Tuesang District
17. Sangsanyu
18. Shamator
19. Longkhim
20. Noklak
21. Noksen
22. Chessore
23. Chare
24. Thonokyu
25. Panso
Mon District
26. Mon
27. Wakching
28. Tobu
29. Chen
30. Phomching
31. Tizit
32. Aboi
33. Angjangyang
Wokha District
34. Wokha
35. Bhandari
36. Sanis
37. Chukitong
38. Wozhuro-Ralan
39. Changpang
40. Ralan
Zunheboto District
41. Zunheboto
42. Tokiye
43. Akuluto
44. Chathashi
45. Satakha
46. Suruhoto
47. Akuhaito
48. Satoi
Phek District
49. Phek
50. Meluri
51. Sekruzu
52. Pfutsero
53. Kikruma
54. Chetheba
55. Chizami
56. Weziho
Longleng District
57. Longleng
58. Tamlu
59. Sakshi
Dimapur District
60. Medziphema
61. Dhansiripar
62. Kuhuboto
63. Niuland
64. Aghunaqa
Kiphire District
66. Kiphire
67. Sitimi
68. Pungro
69. Longmatra
70. Khonsa
Peren District
71. Peren
72. Jalukie
73. Tenning
74. Athibung.

Decentralized planning model of Nagaland

ADMINISTRATIVE SETUP OF THE DISTRICT

Decentralized planning model of Nagaland

Deputy Commissioner is the Overall in charge of the district, CEO of DRDA, ensures coordination between DRDA, VDBs, field officers & all other Departments

Additional Deputy Commissioner acts as the

District Planning Officer and is responsible for preparation, prioritization, monitoring & review of schemes. Release of LADP funds to 7 assembly constituencies

Project Director

Coordinates with district/ State Administration/ GOI

Project Officer

DDO, maintains accounts, plans, monitors & reports on schemes

Block Development Officer

Release of funds to VDBs monitors & reports on schemes

Village Chairmen & VDBs Executes all schemes in the villages & render accounts to the VDBs

VDB (Village Development Board) a unique system of decentralised planning and development

Duties of the VDB:

2. The Village Development Board, subject to such directives which the Village Council may issue

from time to time, shall exercise the powers, functions and duties of the Village Councils

enumerated in Clauses 4,6,7,8,9 of Section 13 of the Act, subject to the prior approval of the

Chairman of the Village Council.

3. The Village Development Board shall also, subject to such directives as the Village Council

may issue from time to time, formulate schemes, programmes of action for the development and

progress of the Village as a whole or groups of individuals in the Village, or for individuals in the

Village, either using the village community or other funds.

Composition:

4. (a)

all such members shall form

shall hold atleast two general body meetings, of the VDB’s during one financial year. During this

general body meetings, the concern Village Development Board Secretary who shall be designated

as Secretary of the Management Committee of the VDB, shall lay before the general body all

details regarding the VDB Schemes implemented under various programmes, money drawn, loans

issued against fixed deposits security, interest or fixed deposit drawn, manner of utilization of

interest amount and any other issues concerning the VDB’s on which the general body may like to

seek clarification.

4. (b) There shall be a Management Committee of the VDB’s which shall be entrusted with the

management of the Village Development Boards and the funds of the VDB’s, the members of the

Management Committee of the VDB shall be chosen by the Village Council concerned. The tenure

of the members of the Management Committee of the VDB shall be 3 (Three) years unless decided

otherwise by the Village Council by resolution. The members of the Management Committee of

the VDB may include members of the Village Council those persons who are not members of the

Village Council or those who are ineligible to be chosen as, or for being members of the Village

Council by virtue of the age or by virtue of tradition and custom. The minimum members of the

Management Committee of the VDB’s shall not be less than 5(Five) members and the maximum

numbers of members shall not exceed 25(Twenty-five) members. The number of Women

Members to be included in the Management Committee of the VDB should not be less than onefourth

¼ of the total number of members of the Management Committee of the VDB’s.

4 (c). Any resolution passed by the Management Committee of the VDB either for loan application,

drawl of funds etc. shall be attended by quorum of not less than 51% of the total number of the

Management Committee, otherwise such resolutions passed shall not be valid and shall be liable to

rejection by the Chariman of the VDB.

5. A member of the Management Committee of the VDB including the Secretary may be

replaced by the resolution of the Village council, for reasons to be recorded in the resolution

subject to the approval of the Chariman of the VDB, i.e., the concerned Deputy Commissioner or

the Additional Deputy Commissioner.

6. The Deputy Commissioner/Additional Deputy Commissioner shall be the ex-officio

Chariman of the VDB in their respect districts and independent sub-divisions.

7. The Member of the Management Committee shall select one among themselves as Secretary

who shall be a person who is literate having a minimum education qualification of matriculation

and above. He shall be paid a remuneration ranging from Rs.1000-Rs.3000 only per month as may

be decided by the VDB concern commensurate with their funds/resources preferably from interest

accrued from the concerned VDB fixed deposit. No Village council Chairman or Head GB or

Village Administration Head etc. shall be permitted to hold the post of the VDB Management

Chairman.

All permanent residents of a Village shall be Members of the Village Development Board andThe General Body Of The VDB’s. This general body of the VDB’s

Procedures for operating bank Account:

8. The VDB shall operate its funds under Grand in Aid Matching Cash Grant, Jawahar Rozgar

Yojona and other programmes through suitable accounts shall be operated jointly by the Chariman

and Secretary of the Management Committee of the VDB.

9. No Cheque shall be honoured unless it is accompanied by a copy of the Management

Committee’s resolution authorizing such withdrawals signed by all members present in the

particular meeting, which must be attended by not less than 51% of the total membership of the

Management Committee and there after approved by the concerned Chairman of the VDB.

Fixed Deposits:

10. No VDB shall be allowed to withdraw its Fixed Deposits since the Fixed Deposits form the

main basis for the existence of the VDB.

VDBs which withdraw their Fixed Deposits will cease to exist and hence for the will NOT be

eligible for any funds under Grant-in-Aid, Matching Cash Grant, Jawahar Rozgar Yojona and

other developmental funds from the rural Development Department.

In respect of VDBs whose term Deposits have expired, the concerned Chairman (DC’s/ADCs)

shall direct these VDBs to renew their fixed Deposits Terms for another five years.

11. The same procedure as in 9 above shall also apply if the Management committee desires to

spend out of any cash which may be in the hands of the Secretary.

Meeting:

12. The Management committee shall meet on the same date every month. The Management

committee may decide the date and shall inform the Chairman of the Management Committee and

the Chairman of the Village Council about such date.

The Members of the Management Committee shall give widest publicity about the date to their

Khel people. Such meeting shall be open to public including members of the general body. Any

change in the date shall be effective only after obtaining the consent of the Village Council and the

Management committee Chairman.

13. In addition to the monthly meetings, the Management Committee may meet more frequently if any

Member of the Management Committee gives notices to the Secretary. However, the resolutions of

the Management committee in such meetings shall not be implemented until these resolutions are

debated in the monthly public meeting.

14. Every decision or recommendation of the Village Development Board shall be in the form of

resolution passed in a regular monthly meeting by all the members present in such a meeting.

15. The monthly meetings shall be attended by the following categories of persons:- (a) Village

Development Board Management Committee. (b) Loanees (those persons who have obtained from

the VDB or against the VDB’s guarantee/recommendations). (c) Any other persons who have been

asked by the Management Committee to attend. The monthly meeting shall be presided over by a

member of the Management Committee/VDB Members for the occasion.

16. The meeting shall be in 3 parts. Firstly, the Secretary of the Management Committee will write the

past month’s account on a Black Board and invites questions with reference to the accounts and he

shall answer the questions. Secondly, each loanee may be questioned by the Management

committee Members and public. Thirdly, other issues in connection with Development will be

debated. The Secretary of the Management committee will record the issues and decisions. Any

person attending the meeting may ask questions. All questions which are not answered to the

satisfaction of the questioner shall also be recorded by the Secretary of the Management

Committee.

Intending Beneficiaries:

17. Persons desiring to obtain loans, or desiring to be included in any development schemes

formulated by the VDB, shall express such desire in monthly meeting.

18. The Management Committee shall not disburse any loan unless the loanee furnishes in writing a

promise to the Management committee to abide by declarations in his application and to attend the

monthly public meeting until he discharges his liability to the satisfaction of the Management

committee and promises to accept any penalty imposed on him by the Village Council in default of

any condition of his loan, provided that the penalty shall be utilized for discharging the liability.

Atleast one copy of such an agreement shall be kept in the VDB Chairman’s Office.

19. Any person permanently residing in the Village may apply for a loan, but such an application shall

contain atleast the following particulars:-

(a) The period in which the applicant proposed to repay the loan with interest.

(b) The amount of loan.

(c) The purpose for which such loan is sought.

20. Whenever the Management Committee passes a resolution authorizing the Secretary of the

VDB Management committee to withdraw any amount from the Bank Accounts, 3 copies of such

resolution signed by the VDB Management Committee Members present in the meeting shall be

prepared by the VDB Management Committee and he shall personally meet the Chariman with

these 3 copies.

When the Chariman receives these 3 copies, he shall examine them. If the Chariman finds nothing

wrong, he shall record his approval on all the 3 copies.

Thereafter one copy will be attached to the Cheque. The second copy will remain in the

Chairman’s office and the third copy will be brought back to the Village by the Secretary of the

Management committee to be read out in the next month’s meeting.

Secondly, if the Chariman has some doubts, but not serious, he shall record his remark on the copy

of the resolution to be kept on his office and record his approval on the other 2 copies. In such an

event, the Chariman shall send the copies of his remarks to the members of the VDB Management

Committee and the Chariman of the Village Council for their information.

Thirdly, if the Chairman has serious doubts the propriety of the resolution he may return the

resolution with his remarks for reconsideration or fix a date for an open public meeting in the

village and put the matter before the public or the General Body of the VDB for arriving at a

decision.

21. At the end of each monthly public meeting the Secretary of the Management Committee shall

write a letter to the Chairman of the VDB showing:-

(a) Names of Village Development Board Members absent.

(b) Names of Loanees absent.

22. The Secretary of the Management Committee shall maintain the following records which may

be inspected by any member of the village in monthly public meeting:-

(a) Register showing a record of meetings held. It will show the time and date and place and

names of members and Loanees present and absent. It will show questions not answered by the

Secretary of the Management Committee or loanees to the satisfaction of the questioner.

(b) A file of Money expenditure resolution.

(c) A cash register showing transaction of savings and current accounts and cash drawls made

under Grant-in-Aid, JRY and other developmental programmes of the VDB.

(d) A separate register for Schemes selected under Grant-in-Aid JRY etc and details of money as

well as disbursals under the above mentioned programmes.

(e) Secretary of the Management committee shall check his record against the records kept in the

Chairman’s office every 3 months.

(f) Secretary of the Management Committee shall keep a file for vouchers providing money

transactions (payments & receipts).

(g) Secretary of the Management committee shall keep a file letters to and from the Chariman.

(h) Secretary shall keep a file for other letters.

23. Letters of Village Development Board addressed to every authority the village shall be in 3

copies. 1copy will be sent to the Chariman of the VDB for information. 1 copy will be kept in

Management Committee’s record and 1 copy will be sent to the addressee.

Audit and Accounts:

24. The Village Council may cause the VDB’s to be audited at such times as it may decide. The

deputy Commissioner will render necessary assistance in auditing the accounts.

25. The Management Committee of the VDB shall place before the Village Council Annual

Account before 30

th April every year covering the period from 1st April of the previous year to 31st

March of the current year. In addition, the Management Committee shall also place before the

general body of the VDB annual accounts of all amounts received under Grant-in-Aid, JRY

matching cash grant and other developmental programmes as well as drawls of money made by the

Secretary of the Management Committee, the matter of utilization of the amounts drawn, the

position of repayment of loans taken by individuals or community as a whole etc., atleast twice a

year. The Secretary of the Management Committee shall record any major decisions taken by the

general body of the VDB during the course of the annual meeting which must be authenticated by

the concerned Village Council Chairman. A copy of this may be sent to the Chairman of the VDB

for information and necessary action.

Disputes and Interpretation:

26. All disputes, except those in which the lending institution is a party, arising out of the VDB

Management Committee working and decisions shall be settled first by the Village Council.

27. On any disputes as to the interpretation of these rules, the Deputy Commissioner’s/Additional

Deputy Commissioner’s decision thereon shall, be final subject to the approval of the Government.

About Us

About us

RURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NAGALAND (RRDN)

THE VISION

(RRDN)

The present strategy of rural development in India mainly focuses on poverty alleviation, better livelihood opportunities, provision of basic amenities and infrastructure facilities through innovative programs and self-employment. But ignorance, lack of awareness, corruption etc has resulted in all these measures not reaching the real beneficiaries i.e. the rural poor. Therefore through Rural Research and Development Nagaland (RRDN) we expect to play the role of facilitator for change in the lives of the rural mass.

Introduction

Nagaland emerged as a State, carved out of the Naga Hills districts of Assam and North Eastern Frontier Agency (NEFA) province in 1963. The State has a population of 19.80,602 lakhs with an area of 16.579 Sq. kms as per 2011 census. The population of Nagaland forms 0.16 percent of India in 2011. The State Govt. has recently created another 22 (twenty two) new Rural Development blocks which are to be functional with effect from 1

The density of population is 119 per sq.km. Nagaland has a Rural population of 14,06,861 which constitutes 71.03% and urban population of 5,73,741 which constitutes 28.97% of the total. Overall literacy ratio is 80.11% in 2011.

Rural Development in India is one of the most important factors for the growth of the Indian economy. The Government has planned several programs pertaining to Rural Development in India. The Ministry of Rural Development in India is the apex body for formulating policies, regulations and acts pertaining to the development of the rural sector. Agriculture, handicrafts, fisheries, poultry, and diary are the primary contributors to the rural business and economy.

Our Mission "Progress through Enlightenment "

envisions that rural people across Nagaland should be educated, motivated and empowered to make their lives more secure and prosperous through education, better health, improved skills, employment and supportive governance. Of late, rural development has assumed global attention especially among the developing nations. It has great significance for a country like India where majority of the population, around 65% of the people, lives in rural areas. st April, 2012. Now the total number of RD Block has increased from 52 to 74 Blocks. There are 1144 recognised villages with Village Development Boards (VDBs) with 2, 24,915 rural household in the State.

Rural development aims at improving rural people’s livelihoods in an equitable and sustainable manner, both socially and environmentally, through better access to assets (natural, physical, human, technological and social capital), and services, and control over productive capital (in its financial or economic and political forms) that enable them to improve their livelihoods on a sustainable and equitable basis.

The basic objectives of Rural Development Programs have been alleviation of poverty and unemployment through creation of basic social and economic infrastructure, provision of training to rural unemployed youth and providing employment to marginal Farmers/ Laborers to discourage seasonal and permanent migration to urban areas.

Our Mission

We Believe,

Decentralization of power from centre to states, states to districts and areas within districts and villages can be one of best ways of radically restructuring an over centralized system of governance, which may be somewhat removable from people, and have limited direct accountability to them. Decentralization results in empowering people, promoting public participation and increasing efficiency.

Successfully implementation of development programs requires adequate funds, appropriate policy framework and effective delivery machinery and above all people participation. Availability of fund alone may be a necessary but not a sufficient condition for tackling the problems of poverty and backwardness. Optimum utilization of fund is required to achieve sustainable growth.

However, without good governance and programmed implementation, much of the vast quantum of resources being spent for development is wasted. Therefore, it should be so designed as to bring about improve transparency, better accountability and streamlining of the structure of government.

It is the grassroots level organization like VDB, which can ensures transparency and accountability in public life through active participation. Concerted efforts are, therefore, necessary to equip the grassroots organization through devolution of powers, functions and finance along with necessary training and capacity building.

This, plus the fact that development communication should cut across and intermingle with all sectors concerned with rural development if it is to yield its full potential, means that there is no one organizational location for development communication that is valid for every situation. Rural development in India has witnessed several changes over the years in its emphasis, approaches, strategies and programs. It has assumed a new dimension and perspectives as a consequence. Rural development can be richer and more meaningful only through the participation of clienteles of development. Just as implementation is the touchstone for planning, people’s participation is the centre-piece in rural development. People’s participation is one of the foremost pre-requisites of development process both from procedural and philosophical perspectives. For the development planners and administrators it is important to solicit the participation of different groups of rural people, to make the plans participatory. is to impart people participatory in decentralized at grass root level, through, awareness program, program Implementation, Capacity Building, Rural Research and innovation. is an initiative of the likeminded people to further the wellbeing of rural communities in Rural Nagaland.