Guwahati: The Centre and the NDA govt in Nagaland on Thursday signed a landmark agreement with the apex body of eight tribes of the state for creation of a special administrative system encompassing six eastern districts for devolution of regional power across 46 subjects and respond to the long-standing aspirations.The agreement with the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) paves the way for the creation of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), covering Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak and Shamator districts. These districts are home to the Konyak, Sangtam, Chang, Khiamniungan, Yimkhiung, Tikhir, Phom and Sumi tribes.
The FNTA with executive, legislative and financial powers is designed to drive overall development of eastern Nagaland through financial autonomy, faster decision-making, and accelerated infrastructure growth, while ensuring economic empowerment and optimum use of resources.A mini-secretariat headed by an additional chief secretary or principal secretary will oversee the FNTA, with development outlays for eastern Nagaland shared proportionally to its population and area.The accord makes clear that the provisions of Article 371(A) of the Constitution remain unaffected, indicating that FTNA will not dilute, override, or alter the special constitutional protections already granted to Nagaland under Article 371(A)..The authority will be reviewed after 10 years, with contentious issues resolved through democratic political processes.The agreement, signed in New Delhi in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah, comes after several rounds of negotiations since the demand for a separate frontier state by the eastern Nagas began simmering for decades.Shah underscored the significance of the move, saying, “We are all very well aware of the ENPO region and its strategic importance. Ever since the creation of Nagaland, the citizens of Eastern Nagaland have continuously felt in their hearts that they were not receiving justice.”Shah assured full support from the Centre. “Barring one or two points, all issues have been sorted,” he said. “I want to assure the representatives of ENPO that the Centre will extend a lot of help for the development of Eastern Nagaland and will also fulfill its responsibility too,” he added.He added there should be no doubt about the commitment of both the Nagaland and central governments, noting that every amount will be decided and released, with initial expenses borne by the MHA.Shah also highlighted the govt’s track record in the region. “Since 2019, we have entered into 12 important agreements in the northeast. It has been a tradition of the Narendra Modi govt that we make full effort to implement the agreements we have entered into,” he said.Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio hailed the accord as historic. “It reflects mutual trust, addresses the aspirations of eastern Nagaland and the state at large, and reaches out to take development to every doorstep,” he said.Formally organised in 1994 as the Tuensang Mon People’s Organisation — renamed ENPO in 2005 — the movement gathered momentum with a 2007 resolution calling for a Frontier Nagaland Territory. By 2010, ENPO had initially demanded statehood, citing decades of neglect.The breakthrough came in late 2025, when ENPO agreed to suspend its demand for a separate state in favour of a unique autonomous administrative arrangement.
