NVCO raises concerns over BEFR enforcement, land ownership

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Voluntary Consumer’s Organisation (NVCO) has questioned the state government on the extent to which it can effectively enforce the BEFR 1873 (ILR) and prevent infiltration in light of the recent problems in Bangladesh.

In a press statement, it said that the state government remains adamant in its refusal to apply the BEFR (ILR) in Dimapur.

Stating that only the Naga indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland should own land, it was alleged that many Nagas who are not indigenous to the state unlawfully own large amounts of land and even run businesses and institutions.

“We also have cases where some non-nagas unconstitutionally owned land and the state government is silent,” it said, alleging that in some cases, the government illegally issued permission/land patta to non-indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland.

The NVCO asked village and colony chairmen not to issue any certificates that could assist non-indigenous individuals in obtaining an indigenous inhabitants certificate from the relevant authorities. It also maintained that the practice of adopting non-indigenous persons or children must cease.

It further said that it was very discouraging to see Nagaland legislators favouring non-indigenous/non-Nagas as nominees in the recent ULB elections.

Stating that the original inhabitants of Nagaland must seriously consider the proposed Registered Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), it went on to say that the year of settlement should not qualify a non-Naga/non-indigenous person for the proposed registration.

It claimed that every citizen has their own origin and is indigenous to that origin or ancestral land. Therefore, any citizen who settles in another land, whether temporarily or permanently, cannot claim the title of ‘indigenous’.