WARNS OF LEGAL ACTION IF NOT TREATED EQUALLY
Efforts to enact guidelines under the Registration of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) appears to have run into rough weather as the Association of Indigenous Minority Tribes of Nagaland (AIMTN) expressed concern with the State government’s decision to issue a separate enumeration order dated September 20, 2024 targeting four specific tribes– Kukis, Kacharis, Garos, and Mikirs (Karbis) in line with RIIN.
AIMTN, representing the four above mentioned tribes, has expressed shock at the government for issuing another order on the same day, with the same file number, specifically directing the enumeration of the four tribes. AIMTN added that while the four tribes welcomed and supported the state’s broader RIIN initiative, yet singling them in this manner made it seem like discrimination and a violation of their fundamental rights.
AIMTN emphasized that the RIIN process should apply equally to all recognized indigenous tribes of Nagaland. They warned that if the government was unwilling to treat them equally with other indigenous tribes, they will seek legal recourse.
Memorandum to CS: In a memorandum addressed to the chief secretary, AIMTN president SK Khemprai and general secretary Richard P Haolai ; Kiki Inpi Nagaland (KIN) president L Singsit; Nagaland Garo Tribal Council (NGTC) president Karampal Momini; Kachari Tribal Council Nagaland (KTCN) president CK Mech and Karbi Union president Moia Rongpi reiterated that as per information available in the media with regard to the cabinet resolution and the Home Department, the cabinet had approved the implementation of the RIIN.
They said it was also reported that the procedure to be adopted would be based on draft notification, while pointing out that the government order also stated that Indigenous Inhabitant Certificate (IIC) would be implemented for Kuki, Kachari, Garo and Mikir (Karbi), and non-Naga indigenous inhabitants of the state.
Considering this, they wanted to know what was the reason for implementing RIIN/IIC for non-Naga indigenous tribes only, and what procedure the government would adopt while implementing RIIN/IIC.
They also sought to know whether the implementation of RIIN/IIC would be for all indigenous tribes of Nagaland or only for the four non-Naga tribes?
They wanted to know whether the state government had adopted the Banuo Commission report on RIJN, and if the report had been adopted, whether the government had issued proper notification on the criteria, procedures, etc, to be followed in implementing RIIN/IIC?
They maintained that at no point of time had the four non-Naga tribes been a threat to the demography and socio-political aspects of the state.
Rather, they said, like all Naga tribes, they had submitted many times, the likely problems the public would face if the enumeration was based solely on the electoral roll of 1963, as everybody agreed that at that point of time electoral roll was haphazard and piecemeal due to various reasons that had been pointed out time and again.
Expressing surprise that RIIN/IIC would be implemented only for the four tribes, leaving all other tribes, the AIMTN leaders said they strongly felt that the move by the state government to carry out enumeration only of four non-Naga tribes was discriminatory in nature and violated the fundamental rights of equality and fairness in treatment of citizens.
Hence, they requested the government to review the cabinet decision and implement RIIN for all indigenous people of Nagaland for the purpose of justice and equality. Otherwise, they cautioned that they would be constraint to approach court for redressal of their grievances.
Govt order: In an order issued by the Home department dated September 20, regard eligibility criteria of being an Indigenous Inhabitant of Nagaland and issuance of Indigenous Inhabitant Certificate, the department said that the enumeration exercise is to be conducted of the people and their direct descendants from Garo, Kuki, Kachari and Mikir (Karbi) settled in the State of Nagaland prior to December 1, 1963 so as to determine their eligibility for issuance of IIC/PRC.
Additionally, Nepali/Gorkhas who have been permanently settled in Nagaland before December 31, 1940, along with their direct descendants, will also be included in the enumeration, the order stated.
The process will be conducted by the concerned Deputy Commissioners at the village and town levels using a prescribed proforma. For draft publication, the Enumeration Sheets must be countersigned by designated authorities—village/town/municipal council chairman, concerned village GB; area administrative officer (EAC/SDO-C/ADC); chairman/president/representative pf Garo, Kachari, Kuki, Mikir (Karbi), Nepali/Gorkhas as applicable and DC.
It further said that the copies of all the Final Enumeration sheets shall be submitted to the Home department through the Commissioner, Nagaland, which shall be placed before the Cabinet for decision.
The order also stated that the modalities for the process of Enumeration may be worked out by the Commissioner, Nagaland. The order also listed the schedule for the enumeration exercise.
Issue of Notification will be October 1, 2024; training of charge officer, supervisors & enumerators to be held on October 18 to 31. Enumeration exercise to be conducted from November 1 to January 2025 January and publication of Draft list on January 15, 2025.
The period for claims and objection will be from February 17 to March 17, 2025 while disposal of claims and objection will be held from March 18 to April 21 and the final publication of the list of enumeration will be on May 6, 2025.