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Neiphiu Rio speaking during the consultative meeting with the tribal hohos, civil society organisations and legislators on RIIN at the State Banquet Hall, Kohima on July 17.[/caption]
Dimapur, July 17 (EMN): The tribal hohos, civil society organisations and legislators from Nagaland have adopted a resolution to support the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) at the consultative meeting convened by the State government on July 17 at the State Banquet Hall, Kohima.
The tribal hohos and civil society organisations were given the opportunity to express its thoughts and suggestions for effective implementation of the RIIN, informed an update from the DIPR. The participants, who also included NGOs, senior citizens and government officials, endorsed the government’s decision for creation of the RIIN.
The House unanimously resolved to support and extend cooperation to the State government for implementation of the Register of RIIN, read the statement. It also “resolved that the process of enumeration for implementation of RIIN would be carried out only after consultations with all stake holders and the final modalities/guidelines are agreed upon.”
While assuring their support, the CSOs “asked the government to give sufficient time to have further discussion on the matter and suggested the necessity to work out clear and practical modalities to be adopted while exercising the RIIN.”
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who attended the meeting, called upon all the tribal hohos and civil society organisations to cooperate with the government in this endeavour. Stating that the government alone would not be able to carry out this task, he urged all everyone to be “part of this exercise by way of engaging themselves with the common people at the grassroots level.”
As suggested by tribal hohos and CSOs, the government would also reconsider the timeframe and also work out the modalities with the help of various stakeholders, he said.
The consultative meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary Nagaland, Temjen Toy and introductory remarks given by Deputy CM Y Patton. The meeting was also attended by the State Cabinet ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and members of the NLA, senior state government officials and office bearers and representatives from dozens of civil society organisations from Nagaland.
‘We should all cooperate,’ says Therie
Amid some civil organisations expressing apprehension over the PDA government’s decision to introduce the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) in the state, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) K Therie has said that clear census and identity is a necessity for all political and economic programmes both for the nation as well as the State.
“Sooner or later, the illegal migrant issue needs to be resolved either by means of RIIN or otherwise. I think we should all cooperate,” Therie said in a statement issued by his press secretary.
He said that “RIIN is to further authenticate Census, Aadhar and Electoral Roll to enable State to apply ILP.”
“The simple qualification for RIIN is that a person or his/her name or their legitimate ancestor must be in the electoral list of 05.12.1963. The impact will be upon all who fail the RIIN for they will be subject to ILP and Art 371(A),” read the statement.
Therie is of the opinion that “cases of bonafide citizens who fail to qualify RIIN need more explanation of their status and position.”
“While some remain critical to Art.371(A) even today, therefore the State Legislative has not made any law to effectively implement the Act in letter and spirit. Sometimes when the need comes, we call in Art.371(A) to protect us, other times some call it traitors’ agreement (sic),” said the statement.
The NPCC president went on to say that for the Nagas of Nagaland who migrated to urban areas, NPF President Dr. Shurhozelie’s recommendation to authorise the villages would be more reliable. “Before such authority is delegated, since adoption law differs from village to village, the State needs a consensus law on adoption,” he said.
He added that “it is the duty of the State government to execute and discharge justice, equality, protect and preserve without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.”
The Joint Committee on Prevention of Illegal Immigrants (JCPI) in its meeting with several apex Naga tribal hohos of Nagaland on July 16 at Hotel Japfu, Kohima passed a few resolutions, including the decision to support the Registration of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) recently announced by the PDA government.
A press release from the committee informed that nine out of 11 tribes attended the meeting. It stated that the house unanimously adopted a few resolutions while three tribes expressed the desire to take collective final decision with the ENPO.
The House resolved “to reaffirm the earlier resolution and urge the government to notify extension of BEFR, 1873 to cover the entire administrative jurisdiction of the state including Dimapur immediately.”
Stating that the RIIN is indispensable to effectively enforce Inner Line Permit (ILP), the House “resolved to support the ongoing exercise of RIIN in the state.”
“Towards this resolution, the JCPI & Apex tribal Organisations shall take the responsibilities to sincerely work in order to obtain acceptable and authentic RIIN towards the fulfilment of the basic concept and objectives of the exercise, the house urged the state Government to invoke the provisions of the Nagaland Village & Tribal Councils Act, 1978 (Fourth Amendment) Act, 2009 (Nagaland Act No. 2 of 2010) to involve the Village Councils and the Apex Tribal Councils to authenticate the list of indigenous inhabitants with vetting power in their respective jurisdictions,” read the statement from JCPI.
The House also resolved that the proposed RIIN must be generated on the basis of the notification No. AR-8/8/76 dated Kohima, the 28th of April, 1977 with a clear cut off date as the 1st December, 1963.” It has “decided to approach the state government to provide certified true copy of the 1st Electoral Roll publish on the 5th December, 1963 from the original record of the Election department which is free from manipulation.”
The Government of Nagaland has convened a consultative meeting on the RIIN with several tribal bodies in Dimapur -- Garo Tribal Council Nagaland, Kachari Tribal Council Nagaland, Karbi Union Nagaland, and Kuki Inpi Nagaland -- on July 20, 11 am, at the Rhododendron Hall, Police Mess, Chümoukedima, Dimapur. An update from DIPR informed that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Deputy CM Y Patton will attend the meeting.
The presidents along with two representatives from the aforementioned Dimapur-based tribal bodies have been requested to attend the meeting.
