Association of Indigenous Minority Tribes of Nagaland decries ‘discriminatory’ RIIN exercise, seeks review

DIMAPUR — The Association of Indigenous Minority Tribes of Nagaland (AIMTN) has requested the state government to immediately review its Cabinet decision for an enumeration exercise covering only four tribes— Kuki, Kachari, Garo and Mikir (Karbi)—as part of the Register of Indigenous Inhabitant of Nagaland (RIIN) preparation.

In a press release issued on Sunday, the association stated that on Sep. 20, the state Home department had issued a notification for enumeration of 15 recognised Naga tribes as part of the RIIN exercise.

“AIMTN, which is a conglomeration of the Kuki, Kachari, Garo and Mikir (Karbi) of the state of Nagaland, welcomes and supported the government’s initiatives on RIIN. However, the AIMTN was shocked when the government of Nagaland came out with another order on the same day with the same file number for enumeration particularly for these four tribes only.

“This move of the government of Nagaland is felt as discrimination of these four tribes and also violation of the fundamental rights,” the association stated.

It maintained that RIIN was meant for all the indigenous recognised tribes of Nagaland and not for particular tribe.

“Therefore, the state government is requested to immediately review its cabinet decision and subsequent order on the matter. If the government is not willing to treat us with equality with other indigenous tribes, we may seek redressal of our grievances in the court of law,” it warned.