The Human Development Index (HDI) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent global benchmarks for human progress, emphasizing equality, sustainability, and individual well-being alongside economic growth. However, these aspirations remain elusive in Eastern Nagaland, a region characterized by systemic neglect and governance failures despite being part of a sovereign state under India’s federal structure. The glaring underdevelopment in this region, evident in persistent poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and poor access to essential services, underscores deeper constitutional and developmental injustices that violate the principles of equity and justice enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
Eastern Nagaland, comprising Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak, and Shamator districts, is one of India’s most underdeveloped regions. Despite Nagaland’s special constitutional status under Article 371A, which accords autonomy to safeguard its social and cultural/traditional practices, the governance structure has failed to address the disparities within the state. Marginalized Naga tribes in the eastern region face severe deficits in health, education, civic amenities, and infrastructure, starkly contrasting the relatively developed central and urban districts. The failure to bridge these gaps raises critical questions about the state’s adherence to constitutional obligations under the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs), particularly those mandating the promotion of social and economic justice for all citizens.
The principle of “leaving no one behind,” central to the SDGs, has yet to be realized in Eastern Nagaland. Basic rights such as access to healthcare, education, electricity, and potable water-guaranteed by the Constitution as components of a dignified life-remain inaccessible to large segments of the region’s population. This neglect reflects systemic inequality, challenging the state’s commitment to achieving both constitutional and international development goals.
The Eastern Naga people through their Frontier Nagaland Territory movement, seeks to address these injustices by demanding legislative, executive, and financial autonomy within a separate territorial framework well-within the state of Nagaland. Rooted in the region’s unique socio-political-economic and cultural realities, the demand reflects a quest for constitutional justice-the equitable distribution of resources and governance powers to ensure the region’s inclusion in India’s developmental journey. Proponents argue that the creation of Frontier Nagaland Territory would operationalize localized, people-centric governance, empowering marginalized communities and fostering accountability. By leveraging the autonomy provisions of Article 371A, Frontier Nagaland Territory could institutionalize mechanisms for more effective resource allocation and policy implementation, tailored to the region’s distinct needs within the sphere of Article 371A and Constitutional boundaries of proposed Frontier Nagaland Territory.
The persistent underdevelopment of Eastern Nagaland highlights failures in governance, resource distribution, and political will. Allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and policy bias have compounded the challenges, leaving the region excluded from Nagaland’s broader development narrative. This neglect constitutes a breach of the fundamental constitutional principle of equality, enshrined in Articles 14 and 21, and the DPSPs’ mandate to reduce inequalities and improve the standard of living in rural and backward regions. The Frontier Nagaland demand is not merely a political movement but a constitutional assertion: a call to fulfill the guarantees of justice, equity, and opportunity promised to every citizen under the Constitution. The movement underscores the importance of recognizing marginalized communities’ rights to participate in governance and development decisions that directly impact their lives.
While the establishment of Frontier Nagaland Territory may provide an immediate remedy to the region’s grievances, it cannot be the sole solution. A comprehensive approach that integrates constitutional justice with participatory development is essential. Beyond autonomy, systemic reforms are needed to strengthen grassroots governance, empower local communities, and enhance accountability and transparency to address corruption and ensure that development funds from the central government reach their intended beneficiaries. A robust development strategy aligned with the SDGs and the constitutional mandate is crucial, emphasizing poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, and infrastructure improvements. Reforming federal policies to ensure equitable resource distribution and targeted investments for historically marginalized regions is also critical.
The Frontier Nagaland movement highlights the gap between constitutional promises and on-ground realities in marginalized regions. Addressing these disparities is not just about fulfilling development goals; it is about upholding the fundamental principles of justice and equality that form the bedrock of India’s Constitution. Proponents of “Frontier Nagaland Territory” believe that, overlooking regions like remote regions of Eastern Nagaland poses challenges to national unity and integrity, while also hindering India’s Constitutional commitment to inclusive growth, justice and development.
The path forward requires a dual focus: providing immediate redress through constructive Legislative, Executive and Financial autonomy within the Constitutional perimeter of the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territory under the watch and guidance of a special “Task Force” created by the Central Government and implementing long-term reforms that tackle structural inequalities.
A collaborative effort by the Government of India, the Government of Nagaland, local stakeholders and policy experts in the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territory is essential to create a framework for inclusive development that respects the constitutional rights of Eastern Nagaland’s citizens. This involves acknowledging the distinct socio-cultural, economic, and geographical challenges of the region, while aligning with the Eastern Naga way of life and national development priorities, all in the spirit of Justice, Equality, Liberty, and Fraternity-values that lie at the heart of our Constitution.
The demand for Frontier Nagaland Territory is a call for constitutional justice-a reminder that development must be equitable, inclusive, participatory and sustainable. It underscores the urgent need for India to honour its constitutional commitments by addressing historical neglect and ensuring a sustainable and just future for Eastern Nagaland and its “forgotten” people.
Dr. Aniruddha Babar, based in Nagaland, is a renowned academician, researcher, lawyer, and policy analyst, widely regarded as an authority on the 6th Schedule, Part VIII, and Article 371A of the Constitution of India. With extensive expertise in Nagaland state affairs and Borderland Affairs, particularly along the Indo-Myanmar Border, Dr. Aniruddha is the Founder and Director of “Project Constitutional Justice” in Tuensang, Nagaland. This initiative is dedicated to advancing constitutional awareness, governance, and social justice. Through education, advocacy, and academia, Dr. Aniruddha’s work empowers marginalized communities and plays a pivotal role in shaping legal and academic discourse in the region. He is currently a senior faculty member at Tetso College, Chumoukedima, Nagaland.