Dimapur, April 16: Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio today said that Inner Line Permit (ILP) should be introduced in Dimapur after considering the difficulties and problems of the district since Dimapur is a metropolitan city.
Delivering the keynote address at the consultative meeting with Civil Society Organizations and Tribal Hohos on Register for Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) was held at the Chief Minister’s Residential Complex, Kohima, the Chief Minister said that on the issue, he has mooted the idea of formulating a law which protects not only the Nagas but also the citizens of other states.
“We cannot harass the citizens of any other Indian states while working on the system of RIIN or implementing the Act”, he clearly stated.
He said identification of indigenous people amongst Nagas of Nagaland is not a problem due to involvement of village council but identification of indigenous Nagas in other states is a problem, citing the examples of Sikkim, Tripura and Assam where the indigenous people have now become a minority in their own states.
According to DIPR report, Rio appreciated the efforts of the NPF party led by Opposition leader, T R Zeliang for vigorously pursuing the matter of RIIN with the ruling government leaving aside their differences. He said the state of Nagaland came into being in pursuance of the 16th point Agreement. As such, the state has the legitimate rights to formulate its own laws and regulations for the interest and protection of its citizens.
He said each tribe shall have its own Village, Regional and Tribal Councils in order to deal with issues pertaining to violating of customary laws and usages. He also added that such councils are legal and mandated by the Constitution by an Act.
Rio also suggested formation of a smaller group to work on the issue having state and district level committee comprising of apex bodies like ENPO, TPO and CNTC at the state level, and tribal hohos and MLAs at the district level. The committee is mainly for the compilation of customary laws and usages and adjudication of disputes.
Opposition leader, T. R. Zeliang in his speech highlighted the progress and current position of the Naga Political Issue after meeting the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah.
Deputy Chief Minister, Y. Patton said that the issue of RIIN is to strengthen the entire process for issue of indigenous inhabitant certificate to protect the rights and privileges of indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland. On urban local bodies, he said Nagaland government is under the constitutional obligation to adopt the new system of municipalities in accordance with provision of the act, because of which, the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 came into force.
Due to rapid urbanization in Nagaland ULBs were created with aims and objectives to facilitate sustainable growth and to establish conducive urban governance. The administrative headquarters like Kohima, Dimapur and Mokochung have experienced more urbanization. This growth is aided by steady and Improvement in transport network in the state, he said.
Minister Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue, Neiba Kronu in his speech stressed on the importance of working together as a team irrespective of party affiliation. On the issue of SARFAESI Act, he reiterated on the importance of banks for growth and development of educated unemployed youths in the state. “Unless we work together with the banks how can we progress”, Kronu added. He also added that Banks will never come forward unless we mortgage our lands.
During the Consultative meeting, the tribal Hohos took a collective decision to go for RIIN but insisted that Banuo Z. Jamir’s report should be made known to the general public before implementation.
(Page News Service)
