Dimapur, Aug. 12 (EMN): Expounding that Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) is entitled to only the Nagas of Nagaland, the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) stated that failing to implement it would amount to exploiting the rights of Naga indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland.
Speaking on the occasion of ‘International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples’ on August 9 in the state capital Kohima on the theme “Leaving no one behind- Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract,” NVCO president Kezhokhoto Savi, urged the original inhabitant Nagas of Nagaland to seriously consider the proposed RIIN. He also cautioned the people to never allow any mechanism to exploit the rights of the indigenous inhabitants of the land.
Savi stated that the Naga indigenous people cannot afford to lose the day as Article 371A of the Constitution of India has guaranteed special rights to the Naga indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland. He stated that the constitution has provided provision to protect the Naga people of Nagaland from their own way of life, its land and resources, an update from NVCO media cell stated.
Savi also stated that the entire surface of the earth crust within the territory of Nagaland should be owned by the Naga indigenous and not by the non-indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland (The Nagaland and Revenue Regulation Amendment Act, 1978).
Savi stated that the day serves as a reminder to all on the need to do much more than what has been done so far for indigenous people. He stated that people are encouraged to spread the United Nation’s message of protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous people worldwide.
According to Savi, indigenous peoples are generally regarded as the “original inhabitants” of a territory or region. He cautioned that the right to self-determination could be materially affected by the later-arriving ethnic groups as in many countries, indigenous populations have been subjected to marginalisation, exploitation and oppression by dominant ethnic groups or colonial authorities.
“The dateline of the year of settlement should not qualify a non-Naga/ non-indigenous for the proposed registration. Every citizen has its own origin and he/she is the indigenous of that origin or ancestral land and therefore, any citizen come to settle in another land temporarily/ permanently may not claim the title of ‘indigenous’ as she/he continually holds ‘indigenous’ of her/his original land,” Savi said.
He, therefore, asked the village councils, town wards/ colony leaders and the issuing authority to take all precaution so as not to issue the said certificate to others, especially the residential certificate. He also urged to discourage the practice of adoption especially a non-indigenous person or child.
He further stated that the United Nations has seriously discussed about indigenous issues related to culture, economic and social development, education, the environment, health and human rights.
