Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) under the aegis of Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Friday launched its “Sensitisation Tour of Colleges on Inner Line Regulation” by holding first programme at Kohima Science College, Jotsoma (Autonomous).
Delivering the keynote message, ILRC chairman, Senchumo NSN Lotha, said that the sensitisation tour was aimed at creating awareness among students and citizens on the historical roots, present relevance, and the need for strict implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Nagaland.
Lotha stated that the British administration had stringently enforced the ILP during its rule. However, he lamented that after the formation of the state, the implementation of the regulation had weakened despite continued advocacy by the NSF since the late 1970s. NSN Lotha said NSF had repeatedly submitted memorandums to the state government, urging strict enforcement of the regulation.
He observed that the failure to effectively implement ILP had led to the unabated influx of non-Nagas, both legal and illegal, into the state, altering its demographic and economic landscape.
While both Nagaland and Mizoram were granted the same legal protection under the BEFR 1873, he remarked that Mizoram had successfully used the ILP mechanism to its advantage, whereas Nagaland had failed to do so.
“Today, while most shops in Mizoram are owned by Mizo people, in Nagaland, the reverse is true,” Lotha stated, adding that such economic dependency had made many Nagas “slaves in their own land.”
He called upon the people to collectively safeguard their culture and reclaim control of their economy, describing ILP as the best means to achieve economic emancipation and resist “economic imperialism.” He also said the state government must accept its share of responsibility for the negligence that led to the current situation.
Lotha stressed that a strong political will backed by public collaboration was crucial for the successful implementation of the Inner Line Regulation (ILR) in the state.
Calling upon all Nagas to unite for the meaningful and effective enforcement of the ILP, Lotha said it was vital for safeguarding the socio-economic and cultural identity of the people.
He said the movement should ensure that future generations inherit a state “where the stakeholders determine their own destiny firmly rooted in native culture, traditions, and values.”
Earlier, the programme was chaired by All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) speaker Dzüzüve Swüro. Invocation was offered by KSCJ evangelical union president Maowang Konyak while ILRC member Kelhouneizo Yhome delivered the welcome address and gave a brief note on the formation of the commission. KSCJ vice principal, R. Moasangla Jamir, delivered a short speech during the programme.
NSF’s proposal to the state government: To strengthen and streamline the ILP mechanism, the NSF through the ILRC has made a 12-point proposal to the state government including centralised database system for all ILP holders entering Nagaland; new and strengthened ILP checkpoints besides setting up ILP issuing offices at Dimapur Railway Station and Dimapur Airport; creation of a separate ILP enforcement wing; sensitisation of implementing departments; transparency in ILP fee collection; change in ILP payment method; ease of ILP issuance; scrutiny of purpose for which an ILP is sought; increased penalty for defaulters; no renewal policy; review of trade licences issued to ILP holders and constitution of Nagaland Inner Line Regulation Commission (NILRC) to oversee and regulate all matters concerning ILP enforcement.