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.