Nagaland government to issue order on Inner Line Permit soon, says PHED minister

DIMAPUR — Acknowledging the increase in population of illegal immigrants in the state, Minister of PHED and Cooperation, Jacob Zhimomi, on Saturday said the state government is trying to regulate the Inner Line Permit (ILP) with certain rules, and that it will draft and issue an order soon.

Addressing the general conference of Western Sumi Hoho at Chekiye, Chumoukedima, he asserted that the government will inspect whether people are staying in Nagaland legally.

He said all the non-Nagas who bought land in Nagaland before statehood in 1963 will remain theirs but they will not be able to sell the land to another non-local, except to the Nagas.

Whoever brings labourers to Nagaland will be the guarantor and they will be given certain period of time to apply for ILP, he said, adding that the responsibility of school teachers from outside should be taken by the institution, and guarantors for the non-Naga employees will be the employers.

He claimed that such an action is necessary as illegal immigrants are on the rise and ‘when there is no rule of law, the state will be in utter chaos’.

He maintained that it’s not about chasing the non-Nagas away but ‘this provision was there long ago’ and the people should cooperate in its implementation for the future of the Nagas.

The minister went on to claim that illegal immigrants have started ‘interfering in the social fabric and livelihood’, which is a serious concern.

He said that the ‘Sumis are bold in nature’ but asked if they were able to display that boldness for truth and urged them to rethink and engage in serious discussions.

He also requested them to stop creating more factions and live in harmony with other communities.

Speaking about the importance of farming, he urged the gathering and the youths to become progressive farmers by increasing productivity through use of advanced technology.

He said that the government is ready to help those who are willing to work genuinely but one should not think about receiving without working.

During the programme, short speeches were also delivered by presidents of Sumi Hoho, Sumi Kukami Hoho, Western Sumi Kukami Hoho and Western Sumi Hoho.