DIPR
KOHIMA, JANUARY 28
THE recognition of Rongmei as a Naga tribe is resurfacing.
The Cabinet on 23rd July 2012 had examined and considered the Cabinet Memo, whereby the Cabinet accepted the recommendation sof the Committee and agreed to recognize the Rongmei as one of the Naga tribes. The move for recognition of Rongmei as a Naga tribe was take up after recommendation of the ZeliangrongBaudi, (ZB) Zeliang People’s Organization (ZPO) and Naga Hoho.
However, the ZPO backtracked on the same and took recourse to legal means against the ‘recognition’.A suomoto cognizance of the issue of the recognition of Rongmei was first raised by the ENPO when it appeared as a news item in the issue of Nagaland Post dated 23rd November 2013.
Today the state Home department issued a press communiqué stating that the matter is now sub- judice and the Government will await the verdict of the Hon’ble High Court, following the case which was filed in the High Court vide WP ( C) 4519/2012.
With this the State Government hopes that the matter will be clarified regarding the status of recognition of the Rongmei tribe in its totality.
There have been numerous references on the issue by various individuals, tribal hohos including government officials which had further confused the public and therefore this press communique is being issued in order to dispel confusions in the minds of the public at large.
In view of the fact that Rongmei tribe is also one of the indigenous tribes of neighbouring Manipur and Assam States, the Cabinet committee had also recommended that Scheduled Tribe Certificate and Indigenous Tribe Certificate will be issued only to those members of the Rongmei tribe, who or whose ancestors were enumerated in the 1963 electoral roll of the State and whose names are enumerated in the report of the Committee dated May 2012.” This number presently stands at 1313 – All names & details appearing at para 2.7 and 2.8 of the Committee Report. The Committee report is available for the scrutiny of any members of the public as may so desire. The enumerated, numbering 1313 Rongmei community compiled in 3 districts of Kohima, Dimapur and Peren as well as their direct descendants be given the status of Indigenous Rongmei Naga Inhabitants of the State of Nagaland to enable them avail all the benefits of reservation to pursue employment and education. Through such a decision it is clear that Scheduled Tribe Certificate and Indigenous Tribe Certificate will be issued only to those members of the Rongmei tribe, who or whose ancestors were enumerated in the 1963 electoral roll of the State and whose names are enumerated in the report of the Committee dated May 2012.
But with the matter now sub judice, the recognition of the Rongmei as a Naga tribe will now await the verdict of the courts.
