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Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 7 (EMN): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday said that there was no report of refugee movements along the border the state shares with Myanmar since the military staged a coup in the country on February 1 this year, however the government has directed the officials to deal with “human feelings” in case any person crosses the border seeking refuge.
It came amid reports of Myanmarese fleeing to neighbouring countries following the military's crackdown on pro-democratic protestors and in the backdrop of Union Home Ministry’s directive to four north-eastern states -- Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram -- to check possible influx of people via India-Myanmar border.
Speaking to journalists at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Rio said the state government will monitor the situation (refugee movement) and deal accordingly. He added that the government had asked the deputy commissioners of respective districts ‘to deal with them (refugee) with human feelings’ if any Myanmar citizens cross over to the state in view of the current situation in the country.
He said that Nagaland is not having much of a problem so far in regard to Myanmar issue though some people enter the state for some medical treatment, medicines, essential commodities and social events like wedding; they were allowed and then sent back.
It may be mentioned that the Union Home Ministry had asked Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram, which share borders with Myanmar, to identify refugees and deport them on the ground that India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.
Meanwhile, Rio-led Cabinet also held a meeting at the Chief Minister’s Office to discuss several pressing issues of public importance including setting up of separate High Court, Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), DC office complex in Dimapur and demand of Nagaland In-service Doctors’ Association (Nida).
A reliable source informed that the House discussed the proposal of the Technical department for replacement of subjects in three polytechnic institutes and agreed to replace engineering subjects on Mining, Electrical and Electronics with Civil Engineering for Polytechnic at Aboi; Interior Designing at Peren Polytechnic and Architecture Engineering at Wokha Polytechnic owing to less demand and few takers among the students.
The proposal for setting up of a separate High Court for the state was taken up and approved by the Cabinet.
The state government will now take up the matter with the government of India for creation of a separate High Court, as Nagaland only has a bench of the Gauhati High Court.
The source revealed that the House had a detailed discussion on the memorandum submitted by the Joint Committee for Prevention of Illegal Immigrants (JCPI) for implementation of RIIN.
It was informed that the government will have consultation with the tribal hohos and other apex bodies on the matter and a meeting will be convened soon.
In regard to Nida’s demand to extend the superannuation age of medical doctors, the source said consultation with the Naga Students Federation (NSF) is still on and more consultation is needed, and therefore the agendum was deferred.
Dimapur DC office complex
The Cabinet also discussed the proposal to shift the Deputy Commissioner’s Office complex in Dimapur to the new complex at Chümoukedima.
The source informed that a group of Ministers will consult with the civil society organisations on the matter before taking a final decision.
With regard to the plot of land in Shillong, which has been acquired by the government of Nagaland for construction of a medical lodge and the request of the Meghalaya government to shift it, the state cabinet deferred the matter considering more time required for consultation.
The Cabinet discussed and reviewed the ban on fresh recruitments (appointments) in government sector and decided to collect data from different departments regarding essential and need-based posts that needed to be filled up.
It added that data collection will be completed in two weeks’ time and the process thereafter will take a month, after which the Cabinet will have further discussion.