The National People’s Youth Front has called for stronger participation of women and young people in Village Development Boards (VDBs), saying their active involvement is necessary for improving grassroots governance and ensuring inclusive development in villages across Nagaland. In a statement issued on Tuesday, NPYF Dimapur district president Zato Sumi said the Village Development Board system remains one of the most important models of village-level governance in the state and plays a major role in local development and welfare activities. He said the VDB system was established under the Nagaland Village and Area Council Act of 1978 and functions according to the VDB Model Rules introduced in 1980. According to him, the system was created with the aim of ensuring development through community participation and collective decision-making at the village level.
Zato Sumi noted that every villager is considered a member of the VDB General Body, making it a democratic platform where important decisions related to development projects, welfare schemes and use of funds are discussed collectively. However, he said the existing framework also includes special provisions to ensure that women and youth are not left out of the development process and are given meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making. According to him, 25 per cent of VDB funds are reserved for women while 20 per cent are earmarked for youth-related activities and development initiatives. The remaining 55 per cent is allocated for general village development works. He also pointed out that the rules make it mandatory for women to have at least 25 per cent representation in the VDB management committees.
Zato Sumi said these provisions allow women and youth to influence nearly 45 per cent of development-related resources and decisions within the VDB system. He stressed that active participation from both groups is important for ensuring balanced and sustainable development at the grassroots level. While stating that the structure and legal framework are already in place, he said meaningful progress would only happen if women and youth actively take part in discussions, monitor development activities and contribute to decision-making processes in their villages.He further urged young people and women across Nagaland to become more involved in local governance mechanisms and help strengthen transparency and accountability in the functioning of Village Development Boards.
